The use of oxygen in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective audit of pre-hospital and hospital emergency management
Alastair K O Denniston, David Stableforth and Christine O'Brien
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.2-5-449
Clin Med September 2002 Alastair K O Denniston
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham
David Stableforth
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham
Christine O'Brien
Department of Respiratory Medicine, George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton

Abstract
Treatment with high-flow oxygen in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) can cause or aggravate acute hypercapnic respiratory failure and adversely affect prognosis. National guidelines for the management of COPD recommend an initial fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2) of no more than 0.28. However, a prospective audit of 101 consecutive episodes of AECOPD demonstrated that oxygen therapy with an FiO2 in excess of 0.28 is common, potentially deleterious and predominantly initiated in the ambulance. Patient awareness, aids to disease identification and ambulance protocols are likely to hold the key to improvement in the acute care of these patients.
- © 2002 Royal College of Physicians
Article Tools
The use of oxygen in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective audit of pre-hospital and hospital emergency management
Alastair K O Denniston, David Stableforth, Christine O'Brien
Clinical Medicine Sep 2002, 2 (5) 449-451; DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.2-5-449
Citation Manager Formats
Jump to section
Related Articles
- No related articles found.
Cited By...
- Audit of oxygen administration to achieve a target oxygen saturation range in acutely unwell medical patients
- The National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure
- Comparative audit of oxygen use in the prehospital setting in acute COPD exacerbation over 5 years
- Influence of FIO2 on PaCO2 During Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients With COPD
- Evidence for Oxygen Use in the Hospitalized Patient: Is More Really the Enemy of Good?
- Noninvasive ventilation in the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure
- The risk of serious adverse outcomes associated with hypoxaemia and hyperoxaemia in acute exacerbations of COPD
- Respiratory Care Year in Review 2010: Part 1. Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary Function Testing, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
- Effect of high flow oxygen on mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in prehospital setting: randomised controlled trial
- An audit of the effect of oxygen prescription charts on clinical practice
- Emergency oxygen for adults
- Use of emergency oxygen in adults
- Audit of oxygen use in emergency ambulances and in a hospital emergency department
- BTS guideline for emergency oxygen use in adult patients
- Is it time to change the approach to oxygen therapy in the breathless patient?
- Oxygen alert cards and controlled oxygen: preventing emergency admissions at risk of hypercapnic acidosis receiving high inspired oxygen concentrations in ambulances and A&E departments.
- Management of acute ventilatory failure.