Additional/Other therapies

• Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT):

  • Improves survival in COPD patients with severe hypoxaemia
  • Reduces progression of pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in pulmonary vasculature)
  • Must use LTOT for at least 15 hours per day
  • Prescribed for stable COPD patients with PaO2 which is less than 7.3 kPa on air
  • Provided by oxygen concentrators
• Humidification:

  • To be effective should be delivered through wide bore tubing (fixed performance devices)
  • Indications
  • increased sputum
  • upper airway discomfort
  • tracheostomy
  • Aids mucociliary clearance
  • Can be heated