Oxygen therapy
Adequate oxygenation is vital for promoting the correct internal environment and energy production necessary for maintaining life. If insufficient oxygenation occurs, oxygen supplementation of the inhaled air is essential. Oxygen supplementation today is a fundamental part of medicine. In all patients showing signs or symptoms of hypoxia, oxygen enrichment of the inhaled air is a basic symptomatic manoeuvre that should be instituted as fast as possible.
Of course, oxygen therapy is just one part of treating patients with signs and or symptoms of hypoxia. It is important to determine and to treat the underlying reason for insufficient oxygenation. For example, pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics and physiotherapy, heart failure should receive proper drug therapy or if needed surgical interventions to restore as adequate myocardial function as possible. The oxygen therapy should be continued until normal oxygenation can be achieved from room air. For some patients with chronic lung disease additional oxygen will always be required to maintain satisfactory levels of oxygenation.
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