Review

Emergency oxygen therapy for the breathless patient. Guidelines prepared by North West Oxygen Group

R Murphy¹, K Mackway-Jones¹, I Sammy², P Driscoll², A Gray³, R O'Driscoll⁴, J O'Reilly⁵, R Niven⁶, A Bentley⁷, G Brear⁸, R Kishen⁹

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Manchester Royal Infirmary
² Department of Emergency Medicine, Hope Hospital, Salford
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport
⁴ Department of Chest Medicine, Hope Hospital, Salford
⁵ Department of Chest Medicine, Victoria Hospital, Blackpool
⁶ Department of Chest Medicine, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester
⁷ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, North Manchester General Hospital
⁸ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester
⁹ Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Hope Hospital, Salford

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to: Dr O'Driscoll (rodriscoll@hope.srht.nwest.nhs.uk)

Accepted June 11, 2001

Introduction

Based on a systematic review of the scientific literature, the North West Oxygen Group have developed guidelines for oxygen therapy for patients who present with acute breathlessness. The above emergency medicine physicians, chest physicians and intensive care physicians have gained approval from their regional societies to have this document accepted as the agreed regional guidelines for the use of oxygen in the immediate care of breathless patients in the North West of England. Flow charts are also currently being developed, based on these guidelines, for use by ambulance and emergency department staff in the area.

It is recognised that the present use of oxygen across these specialties is inconsistent. This protocol will help us to deliver standardised oxygen therapy to breathless patients by paramedics, doctors and nurses. This will also improve the consistency of medical training across these disciplines in the North West.

Introduction

It is crucial to provide optimal oxygen . . . [Full text of this article]

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