Oxygen cylinders
Oxygen cylinders deliver 100% oxygen and are used to maximise delivery of oxygen over a 24-hour period. Additionally, oxygen cylinders are used when:
- ambulatory patients need oxygen away from home
- patients are receiving intermittent oxygen therapy
- supply of electricity is too unreliable for oxygen concentrator use, or backup is needed for possible electricity supply failure.
The limited duration of oxygen supply, and cost of refills and delivery are major drawbacks of portable oxygen cylinders.
Oxygen cylinders come in a range of sizes; see Oxygen cylinder size and capacity. Patients are usually supplied a pull-along trolley or shoulder bag to transport the oxygen cylinder.
Oxygen conservation devices (eg Oxymizer, Oximatic) increase the life of oxygen cylinders substantially by enabling a pulse of oxygen to be delivered on inspiration only; however, evidence of their effectiveness in correcting hypoxaemia is limited.
Oxygen supply companies can arrange oxygen at travel destinations. For information about oxygen use in-flight, see In-flight oxygen therapy.
|
Size |
Volume (m3) (1 m3 = 1000 litres) |
Duration of oxygen supply at flow rate 2 litres per minute |
|---|---|---|
|
G |
7.6 to 8.8 |
hospital use only |
|
E |
3.8 to 5.2 |
about 30 hours |
|
D |
1.5 |
about 11 hours |
|
C |
0.55 |
about 3 hours |
|
Traveller |
0.257 to 0.682 |
depends on size |
Note:
Adapted with permission from McDonald CF, Whyte K, Jenkins S, Serginson J, Frith P, Pretto J. Clinical practice guideline: Adult domiciliary oxygen therapy. Sydney: The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand; 2014. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/resp.12678 | ||