Oxygen administration and monitoring for ward adult patients in a teaching hospital.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to describe oxygen administration and respiratory monitoring of ward patients in a tertiary teaching hospital, and to assess differences in characteristics and outcomes between patients who are receiving versus are not receiving oxygen.


METHODS
Prospective clinical audit of all non-ventilated adult ward patients in a tertiary teaching hospital in Melbourne, Victoria on 26 August 2009.


RESULTS
All 323 eligible patients were audited (medical 218, surgical 105). At assessment, 76 patients (24%) were on oxygen therapy and of these, 57 patients (74%) received oxygen by nasal prongs. Overall, oxygen saturation was documented in 301 (93.2%) patients and respiratory rate (RR) documented in 283 patients (87.6%). Patients receiving oxygen had a lower median SpO(2) (94% vs 96%, P < 0.0001), higher median RR (20/min vs 18/min, P < 0.0005); and were older (68.8 v 63.1 years, P= 0.0094). The in-hospital mortality of patients receiving oxygen therapy was 15.8% compared with 5.3% for those not on oxygen (P < 0.0056).


CONCLUSIONS
Oxygen is administered to one-quarter of ward patients in our hospital. Oxygen saturation and RR are not documented in approximately 10% of patients. Oxygen therapy in ward patients identifies individuals with increased mortality. Continuing educational interventions to increase awareness of the high-risk status of these patients and strategies to detect patients at risk of hypoxaemia are needed.
Eastwood
G M
GM
Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia. glenn.eastwood@austin.org.au
Peck
L
L
Young
H
H
Prowle
J
J
Jones
D
D
Bellomo
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000639:trends*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit / Q000639:trends*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000639:trends*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult