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Oxygen saturation at night
- Question
- Is it necessary to wear an oxygen mask with an average value of 91 (without mask)?
- Answer
- Hello,
since you do not write whether you mean oxygen saturation or pressure, it is hard for me to assess this. Saturation is typically measured with a pulse oximeter; for the pressure (pO2), a blood gas analysis is required.
In most cases, on can consider a saturation of more than 90 to be "sufficient," provided that the values do not drop during the night. There are also some problems with which one should not aim at a saturation of more than 90. The rules – also for CF – are laid down in the the German Pneumology Association’s guidelines for oxygen therapy. In specific cases, this is only for a pulmonary specialist to decide who knows the patient and all her/his information. It would definitely make sense to record the oxygen saturation throughout the night once. This can be done with relatively little sleep disturbance through a small box one can take home and use during the night – then one will know whether the saturation drops at night.
Kind regards,
Prof. Dr. TOF Wagner - 05.01.2009
