How do you hyperoxygenate the patient?

Answer 1

There are three ways to hyperoxygenate a patient, 1) Deliver Fractional Inspired Oxygen greater than 0.21 (the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere), 2) Increase the volume of each breath (e.g. positive pressure ventilation), 3) Increase the rate of breaths. Hyperoxygenation is typically required for a patient who has a compromised airway or cannot control their airway. In most cases using greater pressures or faster breath rates risk introducing air into the stomach (gastric distention) which can cause the to patient vomit, further compromising their airway. Therefore, in these situations, the preferred method is to deliver 100% Oxygen at no more than 20 breaths a minute, watching for normal chest rise and fall.

The goal of Hyperoxygenation is a higher than normal level of oxygen in the arterial blood, and is typically performed before and after procedures which deprive the patient of oxygen (e.g. suctioning).