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Oxygen is a gas that the cells in your body need to work properly. The air we breathe normally has 21% oxygen. A maximum of 100% oxygen can be given.
WHY IS OXYGEN USED?
Babies with heart or lung problems may need increased amounts of oxygen.
HOW IS OXYGEN DELIVERED?
There are several different ways to deliver oxygen to a baby. It depends on how much oxygen is needed and whether the baby requires a breathing machine.
An oxygen hood is used for babies who can breathe on their own but still need extra oxygen. A hood is a plastic dome or box with warm, moist oxygen inside. The hood is placed over the baby's head.
A thin, soft, plastic tube called a nasal cannula may be used instead. This tube has soft prongs that gently fit into your baby's nose. Oxygen flows through the tube. The baby must be able to breathe without assistance in order to use this type of oxygen therapy.
Another alternative is a nasal CPAP system. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP machine delivers oxygen through tubes with soft nasal prongs, but the air is under higher pressure, which helps the lungs better expand (inflate).
Finally, a breathing machine or ventilator may be needed to deliver increased oxygen to the baby. The oxygen flows through a tube placed down the baby's windpipe.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF OXYGEN?
Too much or too little oxygen can be harmful. If the cells in the body receive too little oxygen, energy production is decreased. With too little energy, cells may not work properly and may die. Your baby may not grow properly. There is risk for injury to many of the developing organs, including the brain and heart.
However, too much oxygen can also cause injury. Breathing too much oxygen can cause injury to the lung. Under certain conditions, too much oxygen in the blood may also lead to problems in the brain and eye. Babies with certain heart conditions may also require lower levels of oxygen in the blood. Your baby's doctors and nurses try to balance how much oxygen is needed to minimize the risks of too little or too much oxygen. If you have other questions regarding the risks and benefits of oxygen in your baby, you should discuss these with your doctor.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF OXYGEN DELIVERY SYSTEMS?
Infants receiving oxygen by hood may get cold if the temperature of the oxygen is not warm enough.
Most (but not all) nasal cannulas use cool, dry oxygen. At higher flow rates, this can lead to irritation of the inner nose, such as cracked skin, bleeding, or mucous plugs in the nose. This can increase the risk for infection.
Similar problems can occur with nasal CPAP devices. Also, some CPAP devices use wide nasal prongs that can distort the nose.
Mechanical ventilators have a number of risks. Talk to your doctor about these risks.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoOxygen is a gas that the cells in your body need to work properly. The air we breathe normally contains 21% oxygen. We can receive up to 100% oxygen.
WHY IS OXYGEN USED?
Babies with heart or lung problems may need to breathe increased amounts of oxygen to get normal levels of oxygen in their blood.
HOW IS OXYGEN DELIVERED?
There are several different ways to deliver oxygen to a baby. Which method is used depends on how much oxygen is needed and whether the baby needs a breathing machine.
An oxygen hood is used for babies who can breathe on their own but still need extra oxygen. A hood is a plastic dome or box with warm, moist oxygen inside. The hood is placed over the baby's head.
A thin, soft, plastic tube called a nasal cannula may be used instead. This tube has soft prongs that gently fit into the baby's nose. Oxygen flows through the tube. The baby must be able to breathe without assistance to use this type of oxygen therapy.
Another method is a nasal CPAP system. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. It is used for babies who need more help breathing than they can get from an oxygen hood or nasal cannula, but they do not need a machine to completely breathe for them. A CPAP machine delivers oxygen through tubes with soft nasal prongs. The air is under higher pressure, which helps the lungs better expand (inflate). CPAP can be given with a ventilator.
Finally, a breathing machine or ventilator may be needed to deliver increased oxygen and breathe for the baby. The oxygen flows through a tube placed down the baby's windpipe. The ventilator will also breathe for the baby if the baby is too weak, tired, or sick to breathe.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF OXYGEN?
Too much or too little oxygen can be harmful. If the cells in the body get too little oxygen, energy production decreases. With too little energy, cells may not work well and may die. Your baby may not grow properly. Many of the developing organs, including the brain and heart, may be injured.
Too much oxygen can also cause injury. Breathing too much oxygen can damage the lung. Under certain conditions, too much oxygen in the blood may also lead to problems in the brain and eye. Babies with certain heart conditions may also need lower levels of oxygen in the blood.
Your baby's doctors and nurses will try to balance how much oxygen your baby needs. If you have questions about the risks and benefits of oxygen for your baby, discuss these with your doctor.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF OXYGEN DELIVERY SYSTEMS?
Infants receiving oxygen by hood may get cold if the temperature of the oxygen is not warm enough.
Most (but not all) nasal cannulas use cool, dry oxygen. At higher flow rates, this irritate the inner nose, causing cracked skin, bleeding, or mucus plugs in the nose. This can increase the risk for infection.
Similar problems can occur with nasal CPAP devices. Also, some CPAP devices use wide nasal prongs that can change the shape of the nose.
Mechanical ventilators have a number of risks. Talk to your doctor about these risks.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/14/2011
Kimberly G Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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Which patients would benefit the most from oxygen therapy?
Patients who are suffering from such ailments as asthma, emphysema, or irregular breathing patterns would benefit from oxygen therapy. Also, infants with underdeveloped lungs are also treated with oxygen therapy.
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Music therapy is one of the most useful therapy for infants and toddlers. Here are more benefits of music therapy such as: Increases oxygen saturation in the blood. stabilizes the heart rate stabilizes respiration With the above-mentioned benefits, you will be able to actively contribute to your child's well-being. Download Our App for Music Therapy.
How can massage therapy help premature infants?
Increase weight and improve motor development in premature infants?
How do premature babies benefit from massage therapy?
Premature infants treated with daily massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays than infants who are not massaged.
How old do you have to be to have chest physical therapy?
Chest physical therapy can be used with newborns, infants, children, and adults.
What is the main form of therapy for infantile spasms?
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What is fixed performance oxygen therapy?
Non fixed performance oxygen therapy is also known as variable performance oxygen therapy. The amount of oxygen that is administered varies from patient to patient and from breath to breath.
What is non fixed performance oxygen therapy?
Non fixed performance oxygen therapy is also known as variable performance oxygen therapy. The amount of oxygen that is administered varies from patient to patient and from breath to breath.
What patient preparation is required for oxygen therapy?
No special patient preparation is required to administer oxygen therapy.
Does someone need oxygen therapy when he or she is on medications?
Oxygen therapy is provided to those who suffer from acute or chronic conditions such as COPD. Oxygen therapy is done in association with other medical treatment which can include other medications.
When is helium-oxygen therapy recommended?
Helium-oxygen therapy is a treatment that may be used for patients with severe airway obstruction.
When is oxygen therapy used without a doctor's prescription?
A physician's order is required for oxygen therapy, except in emergency use.
