Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)

Abstract:

Long-term and continuous oxygen therapy (long-term oxygen therapy – LTOT) in permanently hypoxic patients, along with maximal pharmacologic therapy and smoking cessation, proved to be useful and effective in many randomized controlled studies and is now considered standard therapy. LTOT prolongs life, decreases polycythemia, has a beneficial effect on pulmonary haemodynamics due to reduced vascular resistance, reduses pulmonary hypertension during the first two years of administration and pulmonary hypertension remains stable. Studies support the therapy due to exacerbating of lung hypertension after LTOT cessation. However, the benefits of this therapy exceed the possible side effects. Oxygen therapy is currently recommended for patients resting whose arterial O2 is above 60mmHg and who have a significant O2 saturation decrease during physical activity and while sleeping. However, further research is needed. 

Key words:
chronic hypoxemia; long-term oxygen therapy; LTOT