Doctors warn to consult them before using oxygen cylinders at home

Bengaluru: Doctors have warned against the indiscriminate use of oxygen cylinders without proper consultation as many Bengalureans are buying oxygen cylinders and concentrators for medical emergencies at home.

External oxygen cylinders were recommended for Covid-19 patients who had breathing problems even after discharge. But now, many patients recovering from breathlessness at home are using cylinders or concentrators.

For instance, a 43-year-old man from Whitefield, could not find a hospital when he began suffering from breathlessness but managed to get into the emergency section of a hospital near Marathahalli.

The techie who has recovered, said, “Staff stabilised my condition and a CT scan showed the extent of infection. A doctor told me how to use an oxygen cylinder at home and prescribed medicines. I began using 4-6 litres per minute intermittently in the day and throughout the night. It was gradually reduced.” He added, “Right use of oxygen, besides medicines and daily consultations with the doctor helped.”

Dr Pratyush Miglani, consultant, internal medicine, Sagar hospitals said, “Educating patients and their kin on monitoring oxygen saturation and quantity of oxygen needed is crucial.” He also said that reconsulting the doctor to clear doubts is extremely significant.

Also, patients should ensure that cylinders and concentrators are kept far away from flammable objects. Dr Ravindra Mehta, chief of pulmonary, critical care and interventional pulmonology, Apollo Speciality Hospitals said, ” Using oxygen cylinders at home is now a norm with the pandemic. How to use and how much to use can be explained through a video call. Anyone with moderate infection, whose saturation is below 93% and who cannot get a hospital bed can use it.”

He also said that 50% of people use oxygen at home. He added that those who get oxygen and steroids at the right time recover quickly.

As the cases are increasing at a rapid rate, the demand for oxygen cylinders and concentrators have gone up. Suppliers informed that many families are stocking them up for medical emergencies at home. Syed Tousif Masood, who heads Mercy Oxy, a wing of Mercy Mission says that they got over 4,000 calls in the past few days for cylinders. He said, “We install the cylinders and instruct patients or their kin on how to use them”. The NGO had 500 oxygen cylinders and all of them have been taken.

Oxygen concentration function by separating oxygen molecules from nitrogen in the air to form a concentrated gas of 90-95% pure oxygen. Earlier, concentrations were available for rent but now they are not available even for sale.