Why do you not give oxygen to COPD patients?

Oxygen can be given to COPD patients, but only in controlled amounts and only if a SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation) of 88-92% is aimed for, rather than the usual 94-98% SaO2 that is usually desired for most other acutely ill patients who do NOT have COPD or who are not at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure. Hypercapnia respiratory failure is when there is too much carbon dioxide in your blood, and near-normal or not enough oxygen in your blood, and it can be fatal. It commonly occurs in people with COPD who are given too much or uncontrolled amounts of oxygen.

How do you accurately measure SaO2 in COPD patients?

There are two main ways to measure SaO2: through pulse oximetry and through a blood draw test (arterial blood gas [ABG] analysis).

Pulse oximetry

Pulse oximetry involves attaching a small, clip-like sensor to a body part (typically a finger or earlobe) to measure blood oxygen levels.

• This non-invasive technique uses light to determine oxygen saturation in the bloodstream.
• These devices are widely utilized across healthcare settings and have gained popularity for personal use at home.

But pulse oximeters can be inaccurate.

• Movement, poor attachment of the device, poor blood flow, nail polish, blisters, and outside light interference can decrease the accuracy of pulse oximeters.
• Severe hypoxemia, carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin levels, sickle hemoglobin, and anemia, can also affect SaO2 readings.
• Because the device relies on light, skin pigmentation also affects the oxygen saturation readings and researchers have confirmed pulse oximeters are less accurate in darker skinned people, and tend to overestimate oxygen saturation.
• Even in white patients, pulse oximeters tend to overestimate true arterial oxygen saturation, reporting a higher number than is really true and making the person seem healthier than they really are.

Unfortunately, a falsely reassuring oxygen saturation in a person who is short of breath can lead to undertreatment or misdiagnosis, and increase the risk of death or organ failure due to withholding of supplemental oxygen.

Healthcare providers and patients should be aware of the variable accuracy of pulse oximetry in the estimation of SaO2 when used to guide the titration of oxygen therapy in patients with COPD.

Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis

Arterial blood gas analysis accurately measures a person's overall oxygen saturation.

• A blood sample is taken from an artery in your wrist.
• The blood is analyzed in a machine by a laboratory to measure levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, and also the acidity of the blood (pH).

ABG analysis is the more accurate way to measure SaO2 but this test is invasive, takes time, and may not be available in all settings.

How can you safely give oxygen to people with COPD or with suspected COPD?

To safely give oxygen to people with COPD without elevating carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2) and worsening acidosis it must be controlled with a target SaO2 of 88-92% until arterial blood gases (ABGs) have been checked. Mark the target saturation clearly on the drug chart.

Oxygen should be administered at:

• 24% via a Venturi mask at 2-3 L/minute
• 28% via Venturi mask at 4 L/minute.

Nasal prongs deliver pure oxygen to the nose, and can be dangerous because the final concentration of oxygen at the alveolar level is determined by patient factors such as dead space and alveolar ventilation.

Treat anyone with suspected COPD (such as long-term smokers over the age of 50 with a history of chronic breathlessness) the same way and get ABGs urgently.

Related questions

• What is the normal oxygen level for someone with COPD?
• What is the life expectancy of someone with COPD?
• Is Symbicort a steroid inhaler?

Why does hypercapnic respiratory failure occur with COPD?

Acute exacerbation of COPD is a common reason for adult hospital admissions, with some of the highest costs attributed to patients with COPD admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), with an elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2).

Uncompensated elevated PaCO2 causes respiratory acidosis and acidemia and it can be deadly. Putting a “blue” COPD patient (people with low levels of oxygen in their blood look blue) on oxygen therapy may seem the right thing to do, but this has proved to be dangerous and guidelines advise against its use.
Experts have several different theories as to why this happens in patients with COPD.

COPD patients have diseased lungs, and over time their bodies have carefully allocated perfusion to parts of their lungs that work, and away from the parts that don’t. Administering supplemental O2 disturbs this careful balance with diseased sections seeing increased oxygen pressure and stealing perfusion away from better functioning areas. This results in shunting, dead space ventilation, and eventually high PaCO2.

The second theory is that there are two central drivers that trigger breathing. One is high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and the other is low levels of oxygen. Because COPD patients spend their lives with chronically high CO2 levels, they no longer respond to that stimulus, and their only trigger for respiratory drive is the level of oxygen (or lack of) in their blood. Supplemental O2 removes a COPD patient’s hypoxic (low level of oxygen) respiratory drive causing hypoventilation which causes higher carbon dioxide levels, apnea (pauses in breathing), and ultimately respiratory failure.

Another theory is called the Haldane effect. Proteins in our blood such as hemoglobin (Hb), combine with CO2 to form carbamino compounds. But deoxygenated Hb is more likely to bind to CO2 than oxygenated Hb. When O2 supplements are given the equilibrium is shifted between deoxygenated and oxygenated Hb more towards the oxygenated form. This reduces the amount of CO2 that can be bound, and that CO2 winds up dissolved in the blood, resulting in an increased PaCO2.

Read next

See also:

Related medical questions

• Prednisone: What are 12 Things You Should Know?
• What is Fluimucil used for?
• Can vitamin C prevent or treat COVID-19 (coronavirus)?
• What is the difference between emphysema and COPD?
• How long can you be on Symbicort?
• How fast does Dupixent work?
• What is the difference between Breztri vs Trelegy?
• What does Symbicort do to the lungs?
• Why does Dupixent cause eye problems?
• How often can I use my Symbicort inhaler?
• Trelegy vs. Breo: How does their use and cost compare?
• Symbicort vs. Advair: How do they compare?
• How effective is Dupixent for COPD?
• Does Dupixent cause weight gain?
• Is Dupixent an immunosuppressant?
• How long can Dupixent stay out of the fridge?
• How long does it take for Symbicort to work?
• Why do insurance companies deny Dupixent?
• How does the Dupixent Myway copay card work?
• Trelegy vs Anoro: Which is better?
• When should you use Symbicort?
• How does Dupixent work and what is its mechanism of action?
• Can you drink alcohol on Dupixent?
• Can you take Symbicort and prednisone together?

Drug information

• Oxygen prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)

Related support groups

• Oxygen (18 questions, 73 members)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (137 questions, 491 members)

Medical Disclaimer