The recommended target saturation range for acutely ill patients not at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure is 94–98%. This guideline recommends aiming to achieve a normal or near-normal oxygen saturation for all acutely ill patients apart from those at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure. SUMMARY OF KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMERGENCY OXYGEN USE Achieving desirable oxygen saturation ranges in acute illness (sections 6.7 and 6.8) Pulse oximetry must be available in all locations where emergency oxygen is used.Īll critically ill patients should be assessed and monitored using a recognised physiological track and trigger system. (The other vital signs are pulse, blood pressure, temperature and respiratory rate). Oxygen saturation, “the fifth vital sign”, should be checked by pulse oximetry in all breathless and acutely ill patients (supplemented by blood gases when necessary) and the inspired oxygen concentration should be recorded on the observation chart with the oximetry result. The guideline suggests aiming to achieve normal or near-normal oxygen saturation for all acutely ill patients apart from those at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure or those receiving terminal palliative care.įor critically ill patients, high concentration oxygen should be administered immediately ( table 1 and fig 1) and this should be recorded afterwards in the patient’s health record. The essence of this guideline can be summarised simply as a requirement for oxygen to be prescribed according to a target saturation range and for those who administer oxygen therapy to monitor the patient and keep within the target saturation range. (Oxygen has not been shown to have any effect on the sensation of breathlessness in non-hypoxaemic patients.) Oxygen is a treatment for hypoxaemia, not breathlessness. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF THE GUIDELINE Philosophy of the guideline

Wo grubb load charts