STUDY ON OXYGEN THERAPY & MONITORING

Abstract

Oxygen is the most essential element for life. Breathing in oxygen free atmosphere is fatal in 4 minutes. There is usually an excess supply of oxygen over demand which provides a margin of safety if oxygen consumption increases or oxygen delivery falls. Oxygen delivery to the tissues is affected by hemoglobin affinity for oxygen. When oxygen affinity is increased, more oxygen is bound to hemoglobin and oxygen delivery is reduced and vice versa. In pretenn infants, the oxygen affinity of the blood is higher than that of tenn infants, and the normal postnatal changes (decrease in oxygen affinity and increase in oxygen delivery) occur much more gradually. Arterial hypoxemia (Pa02 below 55 trunHg) is the main indication of oxygen therapy. Clinically, any patient with manifestations of respiratory distress (rapid respiration and retractions) is an urgent indication of oxygen therapy. The cmrunonest indications for oxygen therapy are respiratory distress syndrome, meconium aspiration, severe perinatal pneumonia, and acute heart failure. Complications of oxygen therapy are related to both concentration and duration of therapy. So, oxygen should be given with the lowest possible concentration for the least possible time. In high concentration, Free oxygen radicals are highly toxic. They cause neonatal radical disease that includes retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis and others.