Final answer:
Without pulse oximetry, oxygen therapy in COPD patients should be guided by clinical signs and symptoms, aiming to avoid oxygen-induced hypercapnia. Administering 100 percent oxygen can displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, effectively treating CO poisoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Oxygen Therapy Standard, when dealing with COPD patients without functioning pulse oximetry, oxygen therapy should be utilized with caution. In cases where pulse oximetry, which measures oxygen saturation (percent sat), is unavailable, clinical signs and symptoms of hypoxemia should guide oxygen administration. The goal in treating COPD patients is to maintain adequate oxygenation without causing oxygen-induced hypercapnia, which is an elevation of CO2 in the blood.
Oxygen therapy, particularly, in the case of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, involves administering 100 percent oxygen. This treatment works because oxygen competes with carbon monoxide for binding with hemoglobin, and high concentrations of oxygen can displace carbon monoxide, allowing hemoglobin to revert to its role of transporting oxygen to tissues. Giving carbon dioxide would not have this effect as it does not compete in the same way with carbon monoxide and, more importantly, does not aid in oxygen delivery to the tissues.
In situations where hemoglobin is insufficient, it is critical to maximize tissue oxygenation. A hyperbaric oxygen chamber administers pressurized oxygen to increase the percentage of oxygen in the blood, benefiting the patient's immune response and hindering the growth of certain bacteria. However, the absence of pulse oximetry requires careful monitoring of the patient's clinical response to prevent complications associated with oxygen therapy in COPD patients.