Use of a portable oxygen concentrator and its effect on the overall functionality of a remote field medical unit at 3650 meters elevation

ABSTRACT

The supply of oxygen is a complex issue in disaster situations and snowbound mountainous areas. Innovative solutions are required for safe anesthesia practice; one such innovation is a small portable oxygen concentrator for oxygen therapy in remote austere environment. We conducted this study to ascertain the economy achieved by employing this equipment to improve functionality of a surgical unit in an austere environment. Retrospective review of patient records and cylinder consumption from 1st October 2008 to 30th March 2009 was carried out and this data was classified as group A. While group B consisted of all the patients, who required oxygen therapy from 1st October 2009 to 30th March 2010, and were divided into sub-groups, on the basis of type of anesthesia or oxygen therapy. They were further categorized with respect to use of oxygen concentrator or oxygen cylinder for oxygen provision. The percentages of patients in these subgroups were summed to ascertain the economy achieved in the use of oxygen cylinders by comparing cylinder/patient ratio between group A and B respectively. Percentage economy achieved was then calculated. In group A cylinder/patient ratio [21/53] was '0.4' as compared to [3/81] '0.03' of group B. Percentage economy achieved was hence found to be [0.4/0.03%]] 1333%. Use of oxygen concentrator is an innovation which is economical, easily applicable and highly recommended in remote austere environments