Final answer:
Patients are eligible for long-term oxygen therapy if they show signs of insufficient oxygenation, such as an oxygen saturation level below 90% at rest or nocturnal desaturation. This is measured using a pulse oximeter, which helps determine whether supplemental oxygen is needed based on the hemoglobin's capacity to bind oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patients may be eligible for long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) if they exhibit certain clinical conditions indicating insufficient oxygenation. One such condition would include an oxygen saturation level (percent sat) below 90% at rest, which suggests hypoxemia. Another criterion is nocturnal oxygen desaturation without daytime symptoms. These saturation levels are indicative of the patient's hemoglobin capacity to bind with oxygen, a crucial measurement for determining the need for supplemental oxygen.
Using a pulse oximeter, healthcare professionals can measure a patient's percent saturation by applying the device to the fingertip. The pulse oximeter transmits light through the finger to a photodetector, which then calculates the oxygen saturation based on the light absorption by hemoglobin. Normal readings range from 95-100 percent, and values below this range may necessitate LTOT.
Low oxygen levels in blood (hypoxemia) and tissue (hypoxia) can lead to health complications. An understanding of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) is also vital in evaluating and managing patients who may need oxygen supplementation. Thus, patients meeting specific criteria based on these observations would be considered for LTOT.