An audit of oxygen supplementation in a large tertiary hospital – we should treat oxygen as any other drug. Issue 2 (15th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Devoe, Neil C.; Kyriazis, Periklis; Eltanbedawi, Ahmed; Contractor, Anisha; Esposito, Anthony W.; Khan, Muhammad S.; Daniel, Joseph; Stefan, Mihaela S.
• Is Part Of: Hospital practice. Volume 49:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 100
• Page End: 103
• Publication Date: 2021-03-15
• Subjects: Oxygenation -- hypoxia -- hyperoxia -- implementation -- conservative oxygen therapy; Medicine -- Periodicals; Hospital care -- Periodicals; Hospitals; Medicine; Médecine -- Périodiques; Soins hospitaliers -- Périodiques; Hôpitaux -- Périodiques; Hospital care; Medicine; Periodicals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2020.1845018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2154-8331

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objectives : To examine the current state of practice of oxygen (O2) supplementation in adults hospitalized in a tertiary hospital admitted to medical-surgical floors. Methods : We recorded: the proportion of patients on O2; their peripheral O2 saturation (SpO2); if the SpO2 was within, above, or below the target range; if patients had an order for O2 supplementation and a target SpO2 range. Results : Among 811 hospitalized patients, 153 (19%) were on supplemental O2. Forty-nine percent were in the recommended range, 55% above, and 1% below. All patients with COPD on O2 supplementation had a SpO2 of more than 92% exposing them to the risk of hypercarbia. Only 43% of patients on oxygen had an associated order and only 52% of patients with an O2 order had an order for a goal SpO2 range. Conclusions : Our results demonstrate widespread hyperoxia among hospitalized patients and that oxygen, a very common therapy, is being administered frequently without any written order. These findings highlight the opportunity to implement safe prescribing measures for O2, similar to other prescribed medications.