Oxygen Therapy for the Critically Ill

The administration of supplemental oxygen is one of the world’s most used therapies and is a cornerstone of care in the intensive care unit (ICU). The primary rationale is to avoid hypoxemia in patients with, or at risk for, impaired pulmonary gas exchange. Oxygen is generally considered to be widely available (which may not be true in less developed countries), inexpensive, and very safe. Consequently, it is typically administered liberally with an upward titration of the fraction of inspired oxygen (Fio2) to achieve a high level of arterial oxygen saturation (e.g., >96%), with less attention on avoidance of excess use. . . .