Download Blood Oxygen Assessment (Ref 1386)

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Patient Information
Author: Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine
Produced and designed by the Communications Team
Issue date Dec 2013 - Review date Dec 2016 - Expiry date Dec 2017
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provided in a different
Version 1
Ref no. PILCOM1386
Blood Oxygen Assessment
language or format
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cassette) on request.
What is a blood oxygen assessment?
This is a blood test that measures the levels of oxygen and carbon
dioxide in your blood, so that oxygen can be prescribed safely and
appropriately.
Why am I having this test?
This is a smokefree Trust.
Smoking is not allowed
in any of our hospital
The test is to assess your response to oxygen therapy and, if you need
it, to determine the correct and safe dose for longer-term oxygen therapy.
Your blood samples are analysed for oxygen content, which shows how
much oxygen is taken into the blood while breathing normal air and then
after a period of breathing oxygen.
buildings or grounds.
Why might I need longer-term oxygen therapy (LTOT)?
Oxygen is an important gas in the air that we breathe. In some patients
with chronic lung disease, the low level of oxygen in the blood can put
the body under stress, particularly the heart and brain.
The Trust will not tolerate
aggression, intimidation or
Oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen that flows into the lungs
and the blood stream. Giving oxygen for at least 15 hours a day has
been proven to reduce this strain by increasing the amount of oxygen
that these organs receive. LTOT is given via an oxygen concentrator
installed in your house.
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Important Information
The blood oxygen assessment must be performed when your condition
is stable and you are not being treated for a chest infection. If you are
unwell leading up to the time of your appointment, please telephone the
department or your hospital doctor’s secretary, as it may be necessary to
rearrange your appointment.
Before the procedure, to achieve the most accurate results please note
the following requests:
Basildon University Hospital
Nethermayne
Basildon
Essex SS16 5NL
01268 524900 / 0845 155 3111
z Please continue to take all medications as normal.
z Please do not wear nail varnish to your appointment.
Minicom
01268 593190
Patient Advice and
Liaison Service (PALS)
01268 394440
E [email protected]
W www.basildonandthurrock.nhs.uk
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What will the test involve?
The blood test takes place while you are sitting comfortably in an armchair. A sample of blood is
taken from your wrist or ear lobe and analysed. If the oxygen levels are satisfactory the test may stop
there. Otherwise, you will be asked to breathe oxygen for 30 minutes.
The oxygen is given through nasal cannula (small tubes placed under the nose). Afterwards a second
blood sample is taken and analysed.
Occasionally, a third sample may be needed after a further 30 minutes of oxygen.
The assessment may take a while so we recommend you bring something with you to read and a
snack.
Will the test hurt?
You may feel some discomfort or sharpness when the blood is being taken, and you may experience
some bruising of the wrist area afterwards.
If you do have any worries about the test you can speak to the Physiologist (highly skilled practitioner
who performs a wide range of routine and highly complex diagnostic tests) who will be happy to
discuss any concerns with you.
Who can I contact for further information?
Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine,
Level A, The Essex Cardiothoracic Centre, Basildon, SS16 5NL
Tel: 01268 524900 ext 4033.
Thank you for reading this leaflet.
References:
Flenly DC, Medical Research Council Working Party (1981) Long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy in
chronic hypoxic corpulmonale complicating chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Lancet, 1, 681-686
Nocturnal Oxygen Therapy Trial Group (1980) Continuous or nocturnal oxygen therapy in
hypoxaemic chronic obstructive lung disease: a clinical trial. Ann Intern Med, 93, 391-398.
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