Final answer:
When administering oxygen to a COPD patient with chest pain and shortness of breath, care must be taken to maintain target oxygen saturation levels between 88% to 92% to prevent diminished respiratory drive and avoid hypercapnia. Monitoring is done with a pulse oximeter, and low-flow oxygen delivery methods like a venturi mask or nasal cannula are used.
Step-by-step explanation:
Administering Oxygen to a COPD Patient
When a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is experiencing diffuse chest pain and shortness of breath, the administration of oxygen must be done with caution. COPD is characterized by a limitation in airflow that is not fully reversible and often leads to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood. The physiological changes with this disease include the breakdown of alveolar walls, and difficulty fully exhaling air from the lungs, leading to air being trapped and hampering gas exchange. This can result in low oxygen levels and high carbon dioxide levels.
Patients with COPD may use supplemental oxygen to help alleviate symptoms and to maintain an acceptable oxygen saturation level. However, some patients with COPD have a hypoxic drive to breathe and excessive oxygen can reduce their respiratory drive. Therefore, when administering oxygen to a COPD patient in distress, it is crucial to monitor the patient closely and aim for a target oxygen saturation typically between 88% to 92% to prevent hypercapnia (elevated carbon dioxide levels). This target can be achieved by using a venturi mask or nasal cannula at a low flow rate in order to address both hypoxemia and to avoid diminishing the patient's respiratory drive.
It is imperative that patient response to oxygen therapy is continuously monitored using a pulse oximeter. Pulse oximeters are non-invasive devices that measure the level of oxygen in the blood to ensure adequate oxygenation and to avoid any detrimental effects that might arise from high levels of supplemental oxygen. In severe cases, such as with acute exacerbations, a patient might require a more controlled oxygen delivery system and may need to be evaluated for potential hospital admission for further treatment.