[Major points]
- Oxygen therapy uses different devices to provide oxygen at concentrations higher than 21%.
- Use the oxygen flow as your doctor prescribes. Do not change the setting or stop using it on your own.
- Keep oxygen equipment away from fire, and make sure the room is well ventilated.
- If you experience difficulty breathing, pale skin, or drowsiness, these may be signs of low oxygen. Please seek medical help immediately.
1. What is oxygen therapy?
Home oxygen therapy means using different oxygen devices to provide patients' oxygen levels higher than the 21% found in the air, to prevent and treat symptoms of low oxygen.
2. Why do people need home oxygen therapy?
When a doctor determines that a patient has chronic low oxygen levels, long-term home oxygen therapy may be required. Family members should assist in preparing oxygen equipment at home to help keep the patient’s condition stable and improve quality of life.
3. What is home oxygen equipment?
Common home oxygen equipment includes oxygen tanks, oxygen concentrators, non‑invasive
positive
ventilators, and home
mechanical ventilators. You will also need a pulse oximeter to check oxygen levels and a suction machine to remove mucus.
4. How to Choose and Prepare Home Oxygen Equipment?
The following are common types of home oxygen equipment, their suitable users, and precautions.
Please follow your doctor’s evaluation and recommendations to select the most appropriate equipment.
Home Oxygen
Equipment
|
Suitable
for
|
Precautions
|
|
Oxygen tank/Oxygen concentrator
| Patients with low blood oxygen levels who can breathe on their own.
| 1.Choose the proper oxygen delivery device based on patients' needs,such as nasal cannula, face mask, or tracheostomy mask. 2.When using a face mask, ensure that it fits securely over the nose and mouth to prevent air leakage.
3.When using either a nasal cannula or a face mask, protect the patient’s skin from pressure injuries by placing soft pads on the face and gauze behind the ears. |
Non-invasive positive pressure ventilator
|
Patients who require oxygen therapy or breathing support, such as those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or sleep apnea.
|
1.Contact your home respiratory case manager before use to learn about different models, rental prices, and rental procedures, so you can choose the most suitable device. 2.
Make sure the mask fits properly on your face to prevent air leakage.
|
|
Home mechanical ventilator
| Patients with tracheostomy who cannot be weaned off the ventilator. |
Contact your home respiratory case manager before use to learn about different models, rental prices, and rental procedures, so you can choose the most suitable device.
|
To ensure safe and effective use of oxygen equipment at home after discharge, family members should follow these steps:
-
Before discharge: The home respiratory case manager will bring the ventilator to the ward for a trial run. This allows the settings to be adjusted according to the doctor’s orders and the patient’s needs. The equipment will be checked to ensure it is working properly, and family members will be trained on how to operate it safely.
-
After discharge: Regularly contact the home respiratory case manager for maintenance and function checks to ensure the equipment continues to operate properly.
-
If the patient has a Disability Identification Card and needs medical assistive devices, the doctor can give a medical assistive device certificate. With this certificate, the family can apply to the local Social Affairs Bureau for a subsidy to help cover some of the costs.
5. Precautions for home oxygen therapy:
- Follow your doctor’s instructions: Use the oxygen flow exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change the setting or stop using it on your own.
- Oxygen equipment safety
- Keep oxygen equipment away from fire and make sure the room is well ventilated.
- Check the equipment regularly to ensure it is working properly, and know how to troubleshoot problems.
- Always have an oxygen tank available in case of power failure or equipment malfunction.
- When the oxygen tank is not in use, close the valve tightly to prevent leaks and check the remaining oxygen level.
-
Watch for symptoms:If the patient has difficulty breathing, pale skin, drowsiness, or other signs of low oxygen, seek medical help immediately.
References
- Lacasse, Y., Casaburi, R., Sliwinski, P., Chaouat, A., Fletcher, E., Haidl, P., & Maltais, F. (2022). Home oxygen for moderate hypoxaemia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 10(11), 1029–1037. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00179-
- McDonald, C. F. (2022). Home oxygen therapy. Aust Prescr, 45(1), 21-24. https://doi.org/10.18773/austprescr.2022.007
- Sami, R., Savari, M. A., Mansourian, M., Ghazavi, R., & Meamar, R. (2023). Effect of long-term oxygen therapy on reducing rehospitalization of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Pulmonary Therapy, 9(2), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41030-023-00221-3
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- Location
-
- Category
- Self-care / Home Care
Taipei Veterans General Hospital
No.201, Sec. 2, Shipai Rd., Beitou District, 
Taipei, Taiwan 11217, R.O.C.
Tel: +886-2-2871-2121 #04
- Smoking and chewing betel nut significantly induce oral cancer. Obesity will potentially increase the risk of breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Please control body weight and keep away from tobacco and betel nut.
- Information provided above can’t overcome physician's treatment and replace physician patient relationship.
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