The clinical impact of new long-term oxygen therapy technology

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) improves survival for patients afflicted with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may also reduce the incidence of repeat hospitalization due to exacerbations. When properly dosed and titrated, LTOT has also been shown to improve exercise tolerance, thereby enhancing the overall health-related quality of life for this growing patient population. Equipment used to provide LTOT is undergoing a radical transformation, with newer delivery devices offering a sharp contrast to older, more traditional home oxygen equipment. This newer approach to providing LTOT-commonly referred to as "non-delivery technology"-affords LTOT users unprecedented freedom, since they are no longer dependent on home-care providers for repeat deliveries to replenish or replace depleted oxygen contents. Instead, non-delivery LTOT equipment is self-sufficient and able to provide all of the oxygen needed to meet both stationary and ambulatory requirements. However, several models of the newer LTOT equipment have certain operational and performance limitations. Accordingly, in order to preclude unintended desaturation with newer LTOT devices, each patient must undergo an individualized pulse-oximetry titration study by a knowledgeable and experienced respiratory therapist to ensure optimum dosing under all conditions of use.