Oxygen therapy and imaging considerations: Rad Tech

Oxygen is essential to life, and when patients are unable to maintain adequate oxygen levels on their own, supplemental oxygen therapy is provided. In radiology settings, oxygen therapy is commonly used for both hospitalized and outpatient patients undergoing imaging procedures. As a radiologic technologist, understanding how to safely monitor and support oxygen delivery during patient care is essential to providing safe, quality imaging services.

Oxygen therapy is used to treat hypoxemia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood, and hypoxia, or inadequate oxygen delivery to body tissues. When the body doesn't receive enough oxygen, cells and organs can’t function properly. If left untreated, oxygen deprivation can lead to serious complications, including organ damage, respiratory failure, coma, and death. Supplemental oxygen increases the amount of oxygen available to the lungs and bloodstream and helps improve oxygen delivery throughout the body.

Because oxygen is classified as a drug, it requires a prescription and must be administered carefully. Oxygen should always be provided when indicated, but at the lowest concentration needed to achieve adequate oxygenation. While insufficient oxygen levels are dangerous, excessive oxygen administration can also cause harm. High concentrations of oxygen over time may lead to oxygen toxicity, including damage to lung tissue and collapse of the tiny air sacs in the lungs called alveoli.

Methods of oxygen delivery vary depending on the patient’s condition and the care setting. In healthcare facilities, bulk oxygen delivery systems distribute oxygen through a network of pipes and valves connected to wall outlets in patient care areas. When patients receiving supplemental oxygen are transported to the radiology department, portable oxygen cylinders are typically used. Throughout imaging procedures, radiologic technologists must ensure patients continue to receive their prescribed oxygen safely and without interruption.

Oxygen delivery systems are commonly classified as either low-flow or high-flow based on their ability to meet a patient’s inspiratory demands and deliver a predictable concentration of oxygen.

Low-flow systems provide oxygen at flow rates lower than the patient’s breathing demand, so oxygen mixes with room air during inhalation. As a result, the exact concentration of oxygen delivered can vary depending on the patient’s breathing rate and depth.

Common delivery devices used in low systems include nasal cannulas, simple face masks, partial rebreather masks, and nonrebreather masks.

When patients need a small amount of oxygen supplementation, a nasal cannula is often the first choice. Nasal cannulas typically deliver oxygen at flow rates of 1 to 6 liters per minute through two small prongs placed in the patient’s nostrils. Tubing wraps around the cheeks and behind the ears to keep the device in place. Humidification is often added when oxygen flows greater than 4 liters per minute are used because oxygen can dry the nasal mucosa and cause patient discomfort.