Resumen de Importance of medical oxygen in multiple therapeutic uses
Objective: To conduct a systematic review of the available information on the therapeutic role of medical oxygen and its many therapeutic uses. Method: A literature search was conducted on inhaled medical oxygen using the PuBMed (Medline), Library Cochrane Plus and Cochrane Library databases, without language restriction. The designated period was 2006-2016, using MeSH descriptor oxygen inhalation therapy, oxygen and Therapeutic Uses and Respiratory Tract Diseases, indications continuous home oxygen therapy and Oxygen Home Care Services)). It was completed with manual search in Clinical Practice Guidelines for Respiratory Diseases [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and chronic bronchiolitis], Integrated Care Process of COPD and bronchiolitis, respiratory disease journals and monographic documents of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR). Results: Twenty two significant results were found in the literature search and complemented with those obtained in the search in Clinical Practice Guidelines for Respiratory Diseases, Integrated Healthcare Processes and Documents of the SEPAR. These outcomes refer to the indications which have established the oxygen efficacy with existing relevant scientific evidence (COPD), and to other therapeutic uses where scientific evidence was not relevant or sufficient (pulmonary interstitial disease, heart diseases, pneumonia in adults, bronchiolitis, and others). Conclusion: The important role of oxygen is clearly defined in respiratory diseases, but unlike patients with COPD, there is no evidence showing that oxygen therapy affects long-term survival and quality of life in other respiratory and non-respiratory diseases with moderate or severe hypoxemia. Among these conditions, we refer to diffuse interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, heart diseases and generally, any disease in which chronic hypoxemia is an important factor. Despite the lack of evidence, in routine clinical practice, COT must be recommended on an individual Basis in these patients when PaO2 is <60 mm Hg, adjusting the flow rate to maintain a SaO2 >90% (consistent recommendation, low quality of evidence). Therefore, further studies are needed to back-up the role of medical oxygen in this type of pathologies
