O2 THERAPY

• High Flow Devices

  • Transtracheal catheter
  • Venturi mask
  • Aerosol mask
  • Tracheostomy collar
  • T-piece
  • Face tent
• Flow Rate (L/min) for High Flow Devices

  • ¼ - 4
  • 4-6
  • 8-10
  • 8-10
  • 8-10
  • 8-10
• O2 setting for High Flow Devices

  • 60-100
  • 24,26,28,30,35,40
  • 30-100
  • 30-100
  • 30-100
  • 30-100
• Lung Volumes


  • Tidal volume (500 mL)
  • Vital capacity (4600 mL)
  • Inspiratory reserve volume (3000 mL)
  • Inspiratory capacity (3500 mL)
  • Expiratory reserve volume (1100 mL)
  • Functional residual capacity (2300 mL)
  • Residual volume (1200 mL)
  • Total lung capacity (5800 mL)
• Low Flow Devices

  • Nasal Cannula
  • Oropharyngeal catheter
  • Simple mask
  • Partial breathing mask
  • Non-rebreathing mask
• Flow Rate (L/min) for Low Flow Devices


  • 1-2, 3-5, 6
  • 1-6
  • 6-8
  • 8-11
  • 12
• O2 setting for Low Flow Devices

  • 23-30, 30-40, 42
  • 23-42
  • 40-60
  • 50-75
  • 80-100
• Oxygen therapy


  The administration of oxygen at a concentration greater than that found in the environmental atmosphere
• Oxygen therapy


  • Provides adequate transport of oxygen in the blood while decreasing the work of breathing and reducing stress on the myocardium
  • Oxygen concentration at room is 21%
• Indications for oxygen therapy

  • Hypoxemia - decreased in the arterial oxygen tension in the blood
  • Hypoxia - decrease on oxygen supply to the tissues or cells
• Oxygen as a medication


  • Administered in emergency cases without prescription
  • Too much oxygen may cause toxic effects on the lungs, CNS, and depress ventilation
• Oxygen toxicity


  • May occur when too high a concentration of oxygen 50% is administered for an extended period (more than 24 hours)
  • Oxygen free radicals - pulmonary edema
• Use oxygen as prescribed only
• Suppression of ventilation in COPD

  The drive to breathe is a decrease in blood oxygen
• Other complications of oxygen therapy

  • Danger of fire - combustion
  • "No smoking sign" is important
  • Source of bacterial cross-infection
• Low flow systems


  • Contribute partially to the inspired gas the patient breathes (atmosphere + oxygen)
  • Patient makes their own breath
• High flow systems


  • Provide the total inspired air
  • Patient depends on the machine