TY - JOUR T1 - Formal oxygen assessment; improving patient safety and reducing cost JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P636 AU - Katherine Ibison AU - Nick John AU - Koothali Srinivasan AU - Harmesh Modgil Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P636.abstract N2 - Introduction: Home oxygen prescribing in the UK has improved significantly, but it can still be ordered without the need for formal oxygen testing.Results: Data were analyzed from 134 consecutive patients attending formal oxygen assessment at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford. The patient's primary diagnoses are shown in Figure 1. They had a mean age of 72.2 (range 42-91) and 75% were on one or more modalities of oxygen prior to formal assessment (38% short burst, 53% ambulatory, 47% long term). The oxygen was prescribed mainly by Respiratory Nurses (40%) and General Practitioners (31%).A pO2 of ≤8kPa was found in 89% of patients with oxygen saturations of ≤92%. However, only 2% with saturations above 92%, had a pO2 of ≤8kPa. A clinically significant (≥4%) desaturation was seen in 15 out of 16 patients during ambulatory oxygen assessment. The outcome following the formal oxygen assessment is shown in Figure 2.Conclusions: Reassessment of patients already on oxygen is worthwhile and may improve patient safety and cost-eficiency. Oxygen saturations of ≤92% should be used to screen patients being considered for oxygen assessment. Ambulatory assessment is under-utilized. ER -