Oxygen Systems

Oxygen Concentrator

An oxygen concentrator is an electrically powered device with a series of filters that extract oxygen from room air. Also, a backup system, usually a stationary compressed gas system, must always accompany a concentrator in case of power failure or other emergency. Regular household current is sufficient for its use. In limited cases, a humidifier bottle may be necessary to increase moisture to the oxygen as it passes through the tubing to the mask or cannula.

Common diagnoses:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  -- emphysema
  -- asthma
  -- chronic bronchitis
• lung cancer
• acute myocardial infarction
• acute pulmonary heart disease
• congestive heart failure
• viral pneumonia
• bacterial pneumonia
• bronchiectasis

Gaseous Oxygen

A stationary gaseous system consists of a regulator that attaches to a cylinder held securely by a stand. The regulator controls the rate of flow of oxygen to the patient using a flowmeter and indicates pounds of pressure in the cylinder with a pressure gauge. Tubing connects to the regulator on one end and attaches to a mask or nasal cannula on the other.

A portable gaseous system consists of a regulator, which also attaches to the cylinder. A regulator designed for portable systems may or may not control the rate of flow of oxygen. As with a stationary system, tubing connects to the regulator and to a mask or cannula. A portable unit also includes a cart or carrying case.

Hospital Room Equipment

A semi-electric bed is used by a patient who requires immediate and/or frequent changes in body positioning because of pain, difficulty breathing or other issues. The type of bed is helpful when patients are left alone so that they can make their own position adjustments. The head and knee sections are adjusted by a power hand control, but the height adjustment is manual.

A full electric bed, needed by patients who require frequent changes in body position, allows a person to make positions without adjustments. The head and knee sections and the height of the bed are adjusted by a power hand control.

A bedside commode is an apparatus with four legs that supports a toilet seat and a removable pail for easy cleaning. It is used by people who have difficulty getting to the bathroom.

Bathroom Equipment

Bath and shower benches provide comfort and make bathing easier.

A tub transfer chair is used to transfer a patient from a wheelchair to a tub. A portion of the bench, which has a back and four adjustable legs, is outside of the tub and the other portion is set inside.

An elevated toilet seat is a safety item that sits on the rim of a toilet, making it easier for users, such as seniors, to get on and off the toilet.

Toilet, tub and wall grab bars give a patient extra security in the bathroom.

Support Surfaces (Low Airloss Mattress)

A person who must always use a wheelchair is at risk for developing pressure sores, or decubitus ulcers. Unless the person repositions herself or himself frequently, decubitus ulcers can develop within a few hours.

Elderly patients are most likely to suffer from pressure sores. Also highly susceptible are bedridden patients whose skin may be sensitive because of nervous or circulatory conditions and those for whom paralysis makes change of position impossible. Included in this group are patients with stroke, cancer, AIDS, diabetes, peripheral vascular disease or quadriplegia.

Ambulatory Equipment

The single point cane has a length of wood or aluminum tubing with a handle used to steady a person's gait. The length is related to the person's height. The cane must fit the patient at the correct hand height from the ground when the person is standing.

The quad cane has four rubber-tipped prongs extending from an adjustable aluminum staff. This cane provides more stability than a regular straight cane. The small base quad cane is used by patients who need support and who can climb stairs. The large base quad cane is used by patients who need more support and who are unable to climb stairs.

Forearm crutches are lengths of reinforced aluminum tubing topped with guides for the patient's forearms. The patient passes his or her hands through the guides and grips the handles affixed to the tubing. These are crutches are usually used to steady the gait of a person with a neuromuscular disease or birth defect.

The adjustable folding walker has an aluminum tubular frame with four adjustable legs to accommodate the patient's height. The walker has handgrips to aid the patient, who positions himself or herself into it, gaining three-sided support while stepping forward.

A folding wheeled walker is similar to the folding walker except that it is equipped with wheels. This feature allows a person to glide if he or she isn't strong enough to lift the walker.

A standard wheelchair has non-removable, full-length arms, footrests (usually adjustable) and wheel locks. It will generally accommodate patients 5 feet 5 inches to 6 feet tall weighing 110 to 200 pounds. A narrow wheelchair is slimmer than the standard wheelchair and may be used to fit through more narrow doorways.

A hemi-wheelchair has a lower seat than the standard wheelchair to allow a person to propel with his or her feet. This wheelchair is used by people not tall enough to be able to place their feet on the ground while in the chair.

A lightweight wheelchair is lighter than the average standard wheelchair and is used by people who lack the upper-body strength to propel himself or herself in a standard wheelchair.

A heavy-duty (or bariatric) wheelchair is used by people who weigh more than 250 pounds.

Enteral Nutrition

Enteral Nutrition: This is the administration of nutritional formula to the functioning portion of a patient's gastrointestinal tract. Enteral nutrition is considered a reasonable and necessary alternative to parenteral nutrition for patients with a functional GI tract, but for whom regular oral feeding is impossible. Enteral nutrition is often referred to as tube feeding. An enteral formula consists of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and electrolytes that are commercially prepared in liquid form. Patients on enteral therapy have a tube placed into the functioning portion of their digestive system. They may have a nasogastric tube ("NG Tube") passed through the nose and into the stomach, a gastrostomy tube ("G-Tube") passed through an opening into the stomach, or a jejunostomy tube ("J-Tube") that is passed through an opening into the second portion of the small intestine.

Common diagnoses:

• malignant neoplasms (cancer)
• malnutrition
• GI fistula
• malabsorption
• inflammatory bowel disease
• short bowel syndrome
• motility disorders

Respiratory Equipment and Systems

Nebulizers

A small volume nebulizer consists of a compressor to which tubing is attached. The tubing is then connected to a nebulizer medication cup that is fitted with a mouthpiece or mask. Air blows through the tubing and mixes with the medication to form a mist that the patient breathes into the lungs through the mouthpiece or mask. This helps in the treatment of diseases such as pneumonia, chronic, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

An ultrasonic nebulizer transports a very dense mist to the patient. Water particles are nebulized by means of sound waves that produce finer particles of moisture. Small-volume, hand-held, portable, battery-operated ultrasonic nebulizers are also available.

Common diagnoses:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  --emphysema
  --asthma
  --chronic bronchitis
• cystic fibrosis
• lung cancer
• acute myocardial infarction
• acute pulmonary heart disease
• viral pneumonia
• bacterial pneumonia
• pneumococcal pneumonia

Oral Suction ( Aspirator, Suction Machine)

A suction machine creates a negative pressure like a vacuum. The machine pulls mucous and other secretions out of the patient's airway. It is used with disposable catheters to remove secretions in patients with compromised cough mechanism or tracheostomy. Suction may be done orally in the back of the mouth or through the trachea for patients with a tracheostomy.

Common diagnoses:

• lung cancer
• acute myocardial infarction
• acute pulmonary heart disease
• congestive heart failure
• quadriplegia
• cystic fibrosis
• cerebral palsy
• viral pneumonia
• bacterial pneumonia
• chronic bronchitis
• emphysema
• bronchiectasis
• asthma
• black lung
• asbestosis