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Pre-hospital administration of oxygen for chest pain patients

The study was conducted by paramedic student from 195 paramedic programs in the United States on 10, 558 patients provided an extensive analysis of how chest pain patients were responding to pre-hospital administration of oxygen. A study conducted in 2010 presented well documented results of patients complaining of cardiac chest pain, positive pressure ventilation and other indications of criticality. In a timeframe of six months prior to the publication of American Heart Association (AHA), the rate of patients who received supplementary oxygen declined in 2011 compared to the analysis in 2010. Out of 1,738 patients, 488 with SpO2 ≥ 94% got the supplementary oxygen, which accounted to 71.9% of the total encounters. However, the rate decreased to 64% in 2011, with figures amounting to 1820 for 5050 patients encountered (Slovis & Pepe, 2012).

The odds of hemodynamically stable chest pain patients are delivered on the presumption that the patient is in a state of stroke, infarction and head injury or other critical condition and giving supplementary oxygen will provide relief of the symptoms. Notably, oxygen is a powerful drug administered to reverse the hypoxemia without indication and in unknown concentration. Oxygen is the most common administered drug in pre-hospital emergencies; however, it is not the most commonly prescribed drug. For example, although stroke is treatable by oxygen supply to the brain, routine use of it increases the concentration of oxygen free radicals in the brain when there is a reduction in cerebral blood flow. The free radicals potentiate reperfusion injury to the brain (Slovis & Pepe, 2012).

In this regard, and in particular for chest pain patients with (SpO2) is ≥ 94% oxyhaemoglobin saturation, the AHA has cancelled routine supply of oxygen. Nevertheless, 50% of patients who do not meet the criteria are still receiving the supplementary oxygen. Oxygen is a life-saving agent, and a common belief is that in a short time, oxygen is non-toxic. However, there have been logistic challenges and lack of proper training for patient attendants that has castigated the problem of routine use of oxygen. It is, therefore, imperative look up for the indications that will act as a guideline to monitor the supply of supplementary oxygen to the patient during pre-hospital emergencies (Slovis & Pepe, 2012).

Pre-hospital Administration of Oxygen for Chest Pain patients