Abstract
Oxygen therapy is not necessary for all patients who have chronic pulmonary dysfunction. Patients with ventilatory insufficiency do not require oxygen unless there has been progression of their disease or a crisis precipitated by infection, excessive activity, or other causes. Patients who have severer and more advanced impairment of alveolar ventilation or pulmonary dysfunction with cardiac insufficiency, however, do require oxygen. 1 In most instances, differentiation of these severer forms of dysfunction from the ventilatory type can be made by a clinical evaluation that considers at least the following points: (1) history of the disease, its duration and progression; (2) presence or absence of cyanosis at rest or after moderate exercise; (3) presence or absence of orthopnea or paroxysmal dyspnea, especially at night; and (4) nature and degree of disability—the effect of performing simple tasks such as dressing, bathing, talking, and walking. Cardiopulmonary function tests are extremely informative about the
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.