Oxygen therapy for severe acute breathlessness in palliative care

For patients with palliative care needs who have severe acute breathlessness in a hospital setting, oxygen should be prescribed for the management of hypoxaemia, not breathlessness.

Oxygen should be prescribed with a documented target oxygen saturation, depending on the patient’s risk of hypercapnia:

• For patients at risk of hypercapnia, a target oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO₂) of 88 to 92% is recommended. Excessive use of oxygen in these patients increases the risk of hypercapnia, leading to sedation and reduced level of consciousness.
• For other patients with acute conditions causing hypoxia, a target SpO₂ of 92 to 96% is recommended.

For general information on acute oxygen therapy, see Acute oxygen therapy in the Respiratory guidelines.