2020-07-17T07:35:56
When to use O2 therapy
If you have difficulty breathing and oxygen saturation falls below 90 per cent, its time to resort to external medical aid. Says Chafle, “The right way to take it initially is through nasal prongs. If the need for oxygen increases, then a face mask should be used.”
When a patient develops laboured breathing despite oxygen supplementation, the care is typically turned over to the hospital specialist. A non-rebreather mask looks similar to an oxygen mask, as it covers the face in more ore less the same manner and is not connected to a ventilator. The difference is that the mask is attached to a plastic reservoir filled with highly concentrated oxygen. It has a one-way valve, preventing the patient from breathing in the air he has exhaled, which is high in carbon dioxide. Typically these devices are used in emergency situations where patients are not able to maintain blood oxygen levels. They are not used at home, and are not meant for long-term use. They are a temporary arrangement for a patient who will soon require a mechanical ventilator.
However if the respiratory distress is sudden, it is wiser to report to a government hospital and one should never attempt treating oneself at home. According to Bharti Wadhwa, Professor of Anaesthesiology, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP), “As soon as one gets symptoms of Covid-19, the patient needs to report to the authorised government hospital and get himself treated there. Most patients tend to die of lung or heart failure, and especially kidney failure. We call this Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS). One cannot take a chance and must immediately report it to an authorised Covid hospital.”
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