Controlled oxygen therapy at emergency department presentation increases the likelihood of achieving target oxygen saturations in patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Pre-hospital and emergency department pathways of care for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Exacerbations are serious complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that often require acute care from pre-hospital and emergency department (ED) services. Despite being a frequent cause of emergency presentations, gaps remain in both literature and practice for emergency care pathways of COPD exacerbations. This review seeks to address these gaps and focuses on the literature of pre-hospital and ED systems of care and how these intersect with patients experiencing an exacerbation of COPD. The literature in this area is expanding rapidly; however, more research is required to further understand exacerbations and how they are addressed by emergency medical services worldwide. For the purpose of this review, the pre-hospital domain includes ambulance and other emergency transport services, and encompasses medical interventions delivered prior to arrival at an ED or hospital. The ED domain is defined as the area of a hospital or free-standing centre where patients arrive to receive emergent medical care prior to admission. In many studies there is a significant overlap between these two domains and frequent intersection and collaboration between services. In both of these domains, for the management of COPD exacerbations, several overarching themes have been identified in the literature. These include: the appropriate delivery of oxygen in the emergency setting; strategies to improve the provision of care in accordance with diagnostic and treatment guidelines; strategies to reduce the requirement for emergency presentations; and, technological advances including machine learning which are helping to improve emergency healthcare systems.

Automaticversusmanual oxygen administration in the emergency department

Oxygen is commonly administered in hospitals, with poor adherence to treatment recommendations.

We conducted a multicentre randomised controlled study in patients admitted to the emergency department requiring O2≥3 L·min−1. Patients were randomised to automated closed-loop or manual O2titration during 3 h. Patients were stratified according to arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) (hypoxaemicPaCO2≤45 mmHg; or hypercapnicPaCO2>45–≤55 mmHg) and study centre. Arterial oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) goals were 92–96% for hypoxaemic, or 88–92% for hypercapnic patients. Primary outcome was % time withinSpO2target. Secondary endpoints were hypoxaemia and hyperoxia prevalence, O2weaning, O2duration and hospital length of stay.

187 patients were randomised (93 automated, 94 manual) and baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Time within theSpO2target was higher under automated titration (81±21%versus51±30%, p<0.001). Time with hypoxaemia (3±9%versus5±12%, p=0.04) and hyperoxia under O2(4±9%versus22±30%, p<0.001) were lower with automated titration. O2could be weaned at the end of the study in 14.1%versus4.3% patients in the automated and manual titration group, respectively (p<0.001). O2duration during the hospital stay was significantly reduced (5.6±5.4versus7.1±6.3 days, p=0.002).

Automated O2titration in the emergency department improved oxygenation parameters and adherence to guidelines, with potential clinical benefits.