A portable oxygen concentrator uses a system of piping and mixing equipment for regulating oxygen in the atmosphere, but is not necessarily as fast or efficient as using a trained medical oxygen supplier.)
No single treatment option is necessarily appropriate for all patients, but in order to optimize and save lives, a wide range of options should be considered, especially when so many patients are actively taking medications to treat oxygen depletion.
Many of the most effective strategies are paired with each other, in order to maximize the patient’s chances of survival and to minimize his or her adverse consequences. For example, lowering patients’ carbon dioxide levels may increase their ability to stay in the environment during the critical period of resuscitation. Likewise, treating metabolic acidosis early increases the chances of a rapid recovery. With these strategies, a student in the recovery unit may recover from COPD within two hours, compared to waiting up to six hours.
It is well-documented that conditions of poor oxygenation can lead to such precipitous outcomes that more time is needed to stabilize patients before progressing to further support and/or operation. But using noninvasive technologies to stabilize patients for as little as 30-60 minutes before commencing further care can reduce the risk of patient loss from intubation, direct ventilation or fluid resuscitation to potentially as little as 10 minutes.
Rather than hold patients for an additional hour, we can significantly shorten the time of patient stabilization by using noninvasive technologies to identify and stabilize them before we even step foot on the patient. In the meantime, an IV set-up and oxygen will be available and readily available for the first 2-3 hours for a significant fraction of hospitalized patients.
Once a patient is stabilized, we can end the possibility of prolonged nursing or invasive procedures that could have resulted in infection, injury, distress, or even serious chronic kidney disease.
What are the Medical Uses of Portable Oxygen Concentrators?
Respiratory
Pulse oximeter: For patients with pulmonary disease such as COPD or severe pulmonary hypertension. This is the only device that can measure oxygen saturation in the ventilatory settings. Most newer pulse oximetry devices are not usable in “perfect” air. After several dozen episodes of resuscitation, it is not surprising that a large percentage of devices stop reporting vital signs after the third episode. Portable oxygen concentrators change the device from a heavy machine into a light, compact, portable and portable light system, which allow longer life of the device and allow for accurate measurements.
Most of the other pulse oximeters do not measure oxygen saturation in the arterial blood stream, but their average uses can be effective for measuring long-term arterial oxygenation, anaerobic metabolism, or arterial oxygen tension. (Concentration levels can also be tested to tell the patient whether they are on a therapy based on arterial oxygen.)
Portable oxygen concentrators provide these functions, and may be used to assist with monitoring blood oxygen levels for hypoxemia (low oxygen saturation) and hypercapnia (high blood carbon dioxide concentration).
A portable oxygen concentrator can measure the amount of O2 in the blood, the current concentration of O2 in the blood, and the average concentration of O2 in the blood. It can also produce breath samples. These breath samples can be used to evaluate for hemoglobin saturation (Hb) which is an indicator of oxygenation in the blood. These tests can also be used for monitoring of venous blood gas, since venous blood gases affect the blood pressure of the patient.
How Much Oxygen Do I Need?
The amount of oxygen in the blood is determined in relation to the number of blood cells or the total body mass. Most people have 2-3 x 10-8 to 10-10 cells (or 10-8 to 10-9 pounds) in their blood. This oxygen can supply an adult with about five minutes of air time per minute. Since most people breath deeply, they have 2 x 10-6 to 2 x 10-9 breaths per minute. These patients require a little more oxygen than the average person to achieve and maintain adequate breath-hold times.
If you are a person who is looking for more complete air and oxygen intake, then you will have to choose from a few options. There are two: portable oxygen concentrators and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Portable oxygen concentrators are simple and easy to use and you do not have to have the machine at hand or know where to buy one. Continuous positive airway pressure is a process that creates pressure in the body that allows oxygen to flow into your bloodstream.
CPAP machines are a little bit more difficult to use but they allow you to mask your body’s breathing ability to help you sleep better and ultimately improve your chances of staying healthy.
