Medical Gas Therapy and Storage (Chapter 40 & 41 Review) ✅ | Respiratory Therapy Zone

Summary

This video discusses the essential responsibilities of respiratory therapists in managing medical gases, including safe storage and supply. It explains the types of medical gases—laboratory, therapeutic, and anesthetic—and their usage in clinical settings. The video covers key details about gas storage systems, safety protocols, and therapy, such as oxygen's role in treating hypoxemia, the different delivery systems, and the risks involved. Additionally, it highlights high-flow systems, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and special gas mixtures like heliox. Finally, the video promotes a respiratory therapist merch store to support the channel.

Takeaways

• 💨 Respiratory therapists have the crucial responsibility of ensuring the safe storage and supply of medical gases.
• 🔬 Medical gases are classified as laboratory gases, therapeutic gases, or anesthetic gases, each serving different functions in clinical settings.
• 📦 Medical gases are stored in portable high-pressure cylinders or large centralized bulk reservoirs, and labels must be carefully read for identification.
• 📐 To calculate the duration of a medical gas cylinder, multiply the cylinder pressure by the cylinder factor, then divide by the set flow.
• ⚙️ Various safety systems, including A.S.S.S., P.I.S.S., and D.I.S.S., are in place to prevent misconnections and ensure proper delivery of gases.
• 🌬️ Oxygen therapy is commonly used in respiratory care, and oxygen is essential for life but can accelerate combustion, making it dangerous around fires.
• 🫁 The goal of oxygen therapy is to maintain adequate tissue oxygenation while minimizing cardiopulmonary strain, and therapy should be adjusted based on patient assessments.
• 🧴 High-flow systems supply precise oxygen concentrations, while low-flow devices like nasal cannulas result in diluted oxygen with variable concentrations.
• 🎯 The ‘three P's’ (Purpose, Patient, Performance) should guide the selection of oxygen delivery systems for optimal patient care.
• 🛠️ Heliox mixtures are used to reduce breathing effort in airway obstructions, but flow meters must be calibrated accurately for this use.

Q & A

What are the three main classifications of medical gases?

Medical gases are classified as laboratory gases, therapeutic gases, and anesthetic gases. Laboratory gases are used for equipment calibration and diagnostic testing, therapeutic gases relieve symptoms and improve oxygenation, and anesthetic gases are combined with oxygen to provide anesthesia during surgery.

Why is it important for respiratory therapists to be familiar with medical gases?

Respiratory therapists need to be familiar with the chemical symbols, physical characteristics, abilities to support life, and fire risks of the gases used in clinical settings to ensure safe storage, supply, and use.

How is the duration of flow for a medical gas cylinder calculated?

To calculate the duration of flow, multiply the cylinder pressure by the cylinder factor, and divide the result by the set flow rate.

What systems are in place to ensure safety in medical gas supply systems in healthcare facilities?

Medical gas supply systems must include zone valves, alarms to warn of failure, and safety protocols for emergencies such as gas system failures, which could endanger patients receiving oxygen therapy.

What is the primary goal of oxygen therapy?

The main goal of oxygen therapy is to maintain adequate tissue oxygenation while minimizing cardiopulmonary work. It helps correct hypoxemia, reduce symptoms of chronic hypoxemia, and decrease the workload on the cardiopulmonary system.

What is the clinical indication for oxygen therapy in adults, children, and infants older than 28 days?

Oxygen therapy is indicated if the PaO2 is less than 60 mmHg or if SaO2 is less than 90%.

Why should exposure to 100% oxygen for more than 24 hours be avoided?

Prolonged exposure to 100% oxygen can cause oxygen toxicity, so efforts should be made to reduce the oxygen concentration to 70% within two days and to 50% or less within five days.

What are the three P's in oxygen delivery systems, and why are they important?

The three P's stand for Purpose, Patient, and Performance. These factors should be considered when selecting or recommending an oxygen delivery system to ensure the appropriate device is used for a specific patient and clinical situation.

What is the difference between low-flow and high-flow oxygen systems?

Low-flow systems, such as nasal cannulas, deliver oxygen that is diluted with room air, resulting in a variable FiO2. High-flow systems, such as high-flow nasal cannulas, provide a consistent oxygen concentration at flows of at least 60 liters per minute.

What is heliox, and how is it used in respiratory care?

Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen used to reduce the work of breathing in patients with large airway obstructions. Due to its low density, heliox makes standard oxygen flow meters inaccurate, requiring specific calibration for its use.