Approach to Optimal Oxygen Therapy in the Management of COVID-19 Patients during Pandemic: An Indian Perspective

ABSTRACT

Background: A sudden spike in positive cases in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic took Government, Public, and Healthcare system by surprise in India. It was bigger and deadlier than the first wave. Unsupervised oxygen delivery practiced in oxygen buses and pandals by untrained individuals was a matter of concern and should have been discouraged. This resulted in wastage of oxygen which could have led to catastrophic consequences. Awareness about the optimal use of oxygen by identifying errors in prescribing/practicing oxygen therapy will go a long way in saving lives. This article provides a quick review of oxygen therapy with a focus on the rationale use of oxygen and plausible solutions to mitigate wastage in a resource-constrained scenario, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.