title: Chronic lung disease: when to prescribe home oxygen.
abstract: Long-term oxygen therapy has become increasingly common in the treatment of hypoxemic patients with chronic lung disease. Its main benefit and indication is to prolong survival. Oxygen therapy is also recommended for patients with exercise desaturation or sleep desaturation in the presence of hypoxemic complications. Some patients may experience improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics, exercise duration, work of breathing, sleep, and neurologic function. Once a patient meets the criteria for oxygen prescription, you will need to complete a medical necessity form and choose from one of three types of delivery systems. Your role also includes re-evaluating patients at 1 and 3 months to determine the need for continuing therapy.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary Center, Boston University.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Tarpy
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Farber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D014195:Travel