COPD-LONG TERM OXYGEN THERAPY

SUMMARY

1. Given 16 hr/day; anything < 15 hr/day does not confer a survival advantage.

2. Improves dyspnoea, exercise capacity, quality of life.

3. Patients should be encouraged to be active as this improves mortality/morbidity; however difficult as O₂ delivery systems are bulky.

4. LTOT for nocturnal dyspnoea improves sleep quality & decreases number of nocturnal PVCs.
5. Continuous O2 therapy indicated in PaO2 < 55 mmHg or PaO2 < 60 mmHg with pulmonary HTN or cor pulmonale.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].