IMPROVING CLINICAL OUTCOMES IN CRITICAL CARE - OXYGEN THERAPY: BENEFITS, HAZARDS, AND SAFE AND EFFECTIVE PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Course overview

SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE OXYGEN THERAPY PRACTICES FOR BETTER PATIENT CARE. OXYGEN THERAPY IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON AND BENEFICIAL INTERVENTIONS IN MEDICINE. IT CAN PROMOTE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN QUALITY OF LIFE AND REDUCE MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN THE TREATMENT OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS.1,2 MAINTAINING ADEQUATE OXYGEN DELIVERY TO VITAL ORGANS OFTEN REQUIRES THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN, SOMETIMES AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS. AT THESE LEVELS, OXYGEN THERAPY CAN HAVE A DELETERIOUS EFFECT, PARTICULARLY WHEN ADMINISTERED FOR PROLONGED PERIODS.3 GREAT CAUTION IS NEEDED WHEN PRESCRIBING AND MONITORING OXYGEN THERAPY TO AVOID THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF INAPPROPRIATE DOSING AND MONITORING.1,2 MR. ANCY WILL EXAMINE THE HISTORICAL USE AND MISUSE OF OXYGEN THERAPY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON GUIDELINES AND CLINICAL BEST PRACTICES. HE WILL ALSO REVIEW THE ROLE AND WEAKNESSES OF PULSE OXIMETRY IN THE MEASUREMENT OF OXYGEN THERAPY. CASE STUDIES CAN BE USED TO ILLUSTRATE THE POTENTIAL INJURY AND TOXIC EFFECTS OF MONITORING TECHNIQUES. FINALLY, MR. ANCY WILL DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES (ABG) AND CO-OXIMETRY IN PROVIDING SAFE AND EFFECTIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND ENSURING OPTIMAL PATIENT MANAGEMENT. THIS WEBINAR, FOCUSED ON OXYGEN THERAPY, IS THE FIRST TOPIC IN A THREE-PART SERIES EXAMINING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS. THE SECOND TOPIC OF THE SERIES WILL DISCUSS MECHANICAL VENTILATION. THE SERIES WILL CONCLUDE WITH A DISCUSSION ON NEW PROTOCOLS FOR SEPSIS DIAGNOSTIC