COPD and oxygen therapy with medical oxygen
COPD – is the English abbreviation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease . The abbreviation serves primarily as a collective term for the two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COB (chronic obstructive bronchitis) and emphysema. Both conditions are characterized by impaired exhalation.
Patients with COPD and pulmonary emphysema suffer from a lack of oxygen supply. Oxygen therapy can help patients to breathe more easily again. Many patients can significantly improve their quality of life with oxygen therapy.
COPD symptoms
COPD usually begins with coughing and sputum production. But not every cough with sputum production is COPD. Nevertheless, the disease is often only discovered when shortness of breath occurs.
Frequent pneumonia, strong wheezing or rattling breathing sounds, tiredness and fatigue are accompanying symptoms and should prompt you to see a doctor. A lung function test is crucial for diagnosing COPD.
long-term oxygen therapy
Chronic lung diseases such as COPD and pulmonary emphysema can severely impair the body's oxygen supply.
The long-term oxygen therapy ( LOT = long-term oxygen therapy) reduces shortness of breath and increases the resilience of patients with chronic oxygen deficiency. The patient breathes in air enriched with oxygen.
One oxygen therapy should definitely be discussed with a pulmonologist.
Since long-term oxygen therapy takes place over several hours daily and depends on flow (flow rate), range of motion of the patient and some other individual factors, the selection of the right oxygen device together with the pulmonologist is crucial for the success of the therapy.
oxygen concentrators
Normal room air usually has an oxygen content of around 20%. Oxygen concentrators separate the oxygen from the ambient air. The air delivered via the nasal tube is thus enriched with an oxygen content of up to 96% oxygen. Nothing other than a power source is required to operate these devices. Oxygen concentrators are available both as mobile devices with batteries and as stationary systems. Mobile devices significantly increase the patient's mobility, but must be charged frequently. They are not suitable when high flow rates are required. Stationary oxygen concentrators score points with higher flow rates of up to 10 l / min and reliable operation, as no battery charging is required.
liquid oxygen systems
Liquid oxygen systems consist of two basic components, a stationary oxygen tank and a mobile unit. The mobile unit can be filled by the patient from the oxygen tank and offers high mobility due to its low weight and large range of action.
Liquid oxygen tanks must be refilled every 1-2 weeks by an on-site oxygen supplier. This results in higher costs than supplying oxygen concentrators.
compressed gas cylinders
Compared to the systems mentioned above, oxygen cylinders have a small capacity. Cylinders have to be changed more frequently, are relatively unwieldy and must be transported in accordance with the dangerous goods regulations. The costs incurred for long-term oxygen therapy are uneconomical from a commercial point of view.
