Long-term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT)
Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) increases survival and improves the quality of life of hypoxemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is often prescribed for patients with other hypoxemic chronic lung disease.
Living with home oxygen therapy is an integral part of your respiratory treatment, and should help you enjoy a better quality of life.
Oxygen (O2) is essential for life. The air you breathe contains about 21% oxygen by volume. It is inhaled into the lungs and diffused through membranes into the blood.
Sometimes certain conditions can cause a shortage of oxygen in your body and you may need ‘extra’ oxygen to keep healthy and active.
| Chronic bronchitis | Airflow limitation and inflamed lungs can produce too much mucus, leading to coughing and shortness of breath. |
| Emphysema | Enlarged air sacs in the lungs don’t allow the oxygen and carbon dioxide to move in and out of the lungs to your bloodstream. |
| Neuro-muscular conditions | This can interfere with signals to your diaphragm and its correct function. |
| Heart problems | This might interfere with blood being pumped to and from your lungs correctly. |
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Others |
Cancer patients and premature babies may need oxygen therapy on certain occasions |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) |
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the most common lung disease that can be effectively treated with oxygen therapy. COPD is an umbrella term for two of the major breathing diseases that cause airways to become obstructed – chronic bronchitis and emphysema. |
Aims of Long-term Oxygen therapy
With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you may be suffered from shortage of breath, fatigueness & dizziness when doing exercise or walking upstairs. However, through the advice from medical professional, oxygen therapy can help you to improve your situation. There are 3 aims of Long-term Oxygen therapy:
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Improve quality of life
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Improve life expectancy
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Decrease hospitalization
Oxygen Therapy at Home
Adopting a lifestyle that includes healthy habits like quitting smoking, a balanced diet, regular exercise and following your treatment, will allow you to feel the full benefits of your therapy, as prescribed by your healthcare practitioner.
- Quit smoking: ask your doctor for help if needed
- Follow medical treatment as prescribed: including home oxygen therapy and medications
- Seek advice from doctor about vaccination: against the flu and other virus
- Keep healthy: eat a balanced diet and drink enough water
- Follow all safety protocols: store all your oxygen equipment as instructed
- Stay Active: meet up with a friend, spend time with your family, take a walk outside, or do something you love
Safety tips for Oxygen Therapy at Home
Oxygen is highly combustible: it allows fire to ignite more easily and burn more intensely. Do not smoke or allow others to smoke in your home, especially not near your oxygen device.
Because of its explosive properties, oxygen users should also stay at least 6-10 feet away from all heat sources and electrical appliances that could cause a spark. These include stoves and ovens, lighters, candles, fireplaces, toasters, hairdryers, electric blankets, motorized tools, and so on.
Once again, flammability means avoiding products that could exacerbate the fire risk. You might not think that lotions, ointments, and other home care products would be an issue, but many of these fluids can contain petroleum, a flammable gasoline byproduct.
This is just a good home safety practice—but be sure to keep your smoke detectors in good working condition and have a fire extinguisher on the premises.
When storing your oxygen concentrator or oxygen cylinder, make sure it’s turned off and/or unplugged, and keep it in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Oxygen Therapy at Outdoor
Portable and transportable oxygen concentrator can improve patient's quality of life by increasing their mobility. Studies found that outdoor activities, social life and suitable exercises can improve life expectancy of COPD patients.
In Hong Kong, Patients undergoing oxygen therapy can travel by public transports:
Travel with Portable oxygen concentrator
Portable oxygen concentrator is not compressed oxygen cylinder. It is also not a kind of goods or dangerous goods prohibited to be carried under relevant legislation.
Hence, passengers may carry portable oxygen concentrators onto franchised buses and other road-based public transport carriers and ferries.
Travel by Bus
The amended Public Bus Services Regulations commences operation on 1 January 2020, allowing access to franchised buses for persons carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use when travelling, provided that the total number of compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use on board each bus does not exceed two.
Under the amended Regulations, a passenger may bring onto a bus compressed oxygen cylinder(s) required for his/her own medical use if the following conditions are met before paying any fare –
- the passenger shows that the compressed oxygen is required for his/her own medical use when travelling by inhaling the oxygen through a nasal cannula or oxygen mask connected to the cylinder;
- the passenger advises the driver of the number of compressed oxygen cylinders that he/she is carrying; and
- after declaring the number of compressed oxygen cylinders that he/she is carrying, the passenger has not been advised by the driver that the total number of oxygen cylinders on board the bus will exceed two if he/she brings the oxygen cylinder(s) onto the bus.
Travel by MTR
Passengers who need an oxygen cylinder for breathing purposes can carry an oxygen cylinder which does not exceed 1.7 liters in volume and is stored in a proper container.
Travel by other public transport
The arrangements for carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for selfmedical use onto other road-based public transport carriers including public light buses, taxis, non-franchised buses and trams as well as ferries have not changed, which are essentially the same as the amended arrangements for carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use onto franchised buses, i.e. each passenger may bring no more than two compressed oxygen cylinders on board.
However, each carrier can only carry a maximum of two compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use at any one time.
The points-to-note in part (III) above are generally applicable to passengers carrying compressed oxygen cylinders for self-medical use when travelling on other road-based public transport carriers and ferries.
Travelling with oxygen
Your travel plan should include contacting all the parties involved in your trip – including your doctor, travel provider, accommodation and Celki VitalAire at least 6 - 8 weeks in advance.
Starting the process at least eight weeks before your trip will allow plenty of time for all the arrangements to be
- Check with your doctor about your travel plans.
- If you’re flying, you may require extra changes to your medication since the reduced air pressure in an aircraft affects your blood oxygen levels.
- You may also need additional oxygen.
- Ask your doctor for a brief medical history to take with you, listing your medications and oxygen therapy prescription. This will help if you lose your baggage or need medical attention.
- There are many ways you can travel – by car, bus, train, ship or plane.
- Each type of transport may require a different approach to your oxygen therapy. For example, you will need to apply for special approval from your airline.
- As long as everyone is notified well in advance you should avoid unnecessary difficulties.
- Every travel provider will have rules for the type of oxygen equipment you can use.
- Regulations will vary, but the key thing to remember is that it will take time to complete the paperwork that will make your travel possible.