Oxygen therapy. Forever argued by opposing factions throughout the hospital. Traditionally the anaesthetists have always maintained the standpoint that hypoxia is far more detrimental than hypercarbia, and advocated the use of high inspired concentrations of oxygen, at high flows. Opposing this the physicians, particularly chest physicians, have always held firm the opinion that retention of CO2 in chronic type 2 respiratory failure is sufficiently serious an issue to warrant judicious use of oxygen therapy.
Since 2008 there has finally been agreement following the publication of the British Thoracic Society Guideline on Emergency Oxygen Therapy in Adults. This guideline is a consensus statement from every royal society throughout the UK (medical, surgical, nursing, anaesthetic, O&G, paramedics, A&E) apart from paediatrics (They have their own guidance). The agreement concentrates on two main aspects of acute oxygen therapy:
We have a local implementation of this guideline, and you can download it here.
[…] Acute Oxygen Prescribing […]