From the Guidelines
Home Oxygen Therapy for Influenza Patients
Home oxygen therapy is not necessarily required for a patient with influenza requiring 2 liters (L) of oxygen, as this flow rate is often used as a stepping stone before cessation of oxygen therapy in stable convalescent patients 1.
Guidelines for Oxygen Use
According to the British Thoracic Society guidelines, most stable convalescent patients will eventually be stepped down to 2 L/min via nasal cannulae prior to cessation of oxygen therapy 1.
- The guidelines recommend reducing oxygen therapy gradually for stable patients and stopping oxygen therapy once a patient is clinically stable on low-concentration oxygen and the oxygen saturation is within the desired range on two consecutive observations 1.
- Oxygen saturation on air should be monitored for 5 min after stopping oxygen therapy, and if it remains in the desired range, it should be rechecked at 1 hour 1.
- If the oxygen saturation and physiological ‘track and trigger’ score is satisfactory at 1 hour, the patient has safely discontinued oxygen therapy, but saturation and physiology should continue to be monitored on a regular basis according to the patient’s underlying clinical condition 1.
Safety Considerations for Home Oxygen Use
While considering home oxygen therapy, safety should be a factor, and education and written information should be provided to the patient and their family or carers regarding the safe use of oxygen and its equipment 1.
- Patients who continue to smoke or live with other household smokers should be informed that the order for home oxygen will be reviewed, and evidence of increased risk may lead to withdrawal of home oxygen therapy 1.
- Patients should be made aware that they should not use e-cigarettes and chargers within the vicinity of their home oxygen, and only water-based products should be used on the hands and face or inside the nose while using oxygen 1.
From the Research
Home Oxygen Therapy for Influenza Patients
The necessity of home oxygen therapy for a patient with influenza requiring 2 liters (L) of oxygen is not directly addressed in the provided studies. However, the following points can be considered:
- Home oxygen therapy can offer enormous benefits, including improvements in life expectancy, when given in the appropriate setting 2.
- The British Thoracic Society (BTS) has published guidelines on home oxygen therapy, which can be applied internationally, although the availability of certain oxygen modalities and supporting service arrangements may vary between different healthcare systems 2.
- Home oxygen therapy has been shown to bring important benefits for patients, including improvements in physical and neuro-psychological conditions and quality of life 3.
Indications for Home Oxygen Therapy
The indications for home oxygen therapy are not clearly defined for patients with influenza. However:
- Long-term home oxygen therapy has been shown to improve survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and persistent, severe hypoxaemia 4.
- Oxygen is a treatment for hypoxaemia, not breathlessness, and blood gas analysis is recommended before prescribing oxygen 4.
- The benefits of home oxygen therapy for patients with other chronic lung diseases are uncertain 4.
Administration of Home Oxygen Therapy
The administration of home oxygen therapy requires careful consideration of the patient's needs and circumstances. Key points include:
- The usage conditions of oxygen concentrators and the effects of oxygen inhaled at a prescribed flow rate have not been confirmed in adequate detail 5.
- Telemonitoring of home oxygen therapy can enable healthcare providers to check the validity of home oxygen therapy and intervene appropriately 5.
- Patients should be educated regarding the expected benefits, risks, and burdens of home oxygen therapy, and it is particularly important that the patient does not smoke 4.