Oxygen pillow - rules and application features

A person will live without food for 2-3 weeks, without water-7 days, without oxygen-5 minutes. Breathing is the main physiological need of any living organism, and oxygen is an essential element for life. It is responsible for the oxidation of blood, which supplies oxygen to all organs of the human body and, thus, nourishes them.

Without oxygen, the heart stops working, which leads to a stop of blood circulation and, at the same time, to hypoxia of the brain. Then there are irreversible changes in the structure of the cerebral cortex, leading to coma, disability, and sometimes death.

Why do need an oxygen cushion?

In many diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, the lungs lose the ability to supply the body with sufficient oxygen, which leads to ischemia of other organs and tissues. To make up for the deficit, compensation mechanisms are triggered: breathing becomes frequent and shallow, heart rate increases, blood flow increases.

However, patients often need oxygen therapy to relieve their condition, and one of these means is an oxygen pillow. At the moment, this is the simplest method that can be used even at home in seriously ill patients.

Oxygen pillows are especially necessary in emergency situations that require immediate elimination of an attack of oxygen deficiency, especially in patients suffering from bronchial asthma or congenital heart defects for a long time.

Indications for the use of an oxygen cushion

Oxygen therapy is recommended for patients with:

• acute pneumonia;
• pulmonary hypertension;
• cyanosis (coronary heart disease);
• circulatory insufficiency;
• heart failure;
• attacks of suffocating allergies;
• emphysema of the lungs, as a complication of chronic obstructive bronchitis;
• stagnation of venous blood in the small circle of blood circulation;
• coronary insufficiency;
• pulmonary edema of toxic etiology.

When treating such patients in an outpatient clinic, an oxygen cushion should be located in close proximity to the patient to facilitate sudden attacks. Oxygenation maximally saturates the tissues with oxygen, which penetrates into the red blood cells. Its concentration also increases in the plasma, lymphatic system and cerebrospinal fluid. Oxygen therapy improves tissue regeneration, awakens dormant cells and restores their proper functioning.

Contraindications to use

This medical equipment for oxygen therapy has no contraindications. However, due to the individual characteristics of the body, the procedure may not be suitable for everyone. In the treatment of children and pregnant women, an oxygen pillow is used only with a doctor's appointment.

Device and main characteristics

The portable oxygen pillow resembles a traditional product for sleeping and is a waterproof PVC fabric bag with a rubberized base filled with oxygen. It is light, does not take up much space, can replace a heavy oxygen cylinder. Designed for reusable use.

The kit includes a flexible silicone hose with an oxygen supply pressure regulator, a mouthpiece and a nasal cannula. A sterile mouthpiece is put on the tube immediately before inhalation. In addition, a gauze bandage moistened with water is applied to it, which moistens the oxygen-air mixture and facilitates its passage through the respiratory tract.

With an air flow of 5 liters per minute, oxygen is enough for 5-10 minutes, depending on the volume of the pillow (30 liters, 42 liters or 50 liters). The great advantage of such a product is the possibility of repeated use – after the oxygen is consumed, the pillow can be re-filled with an air mixture.

Instructions for using the oxygen cushion

Oxygen inhalations are mainly prescribed by the attending physician when the patient does not have enough O2 gas in the blood. You can also make them yourself. To do this, it is enough to buy an oxygen cushion of the desired capacity.

Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to disinfect the mouthpiece-wipe it with any alcohol-containing agent. If there are none at hand, you can boil it or pour boiling water for 1-2 minutes.

In order to properly breathe oxygen, getting benefits from this, you should strictly follow the instructions, in order to avoid mistakes:

1. Wrap the mouthpiece with a wet cloth or gauze in several layers.
2. Insert it into the patient's mouth so that it does not fall out.
3. Adjust the oxygen supply rate according to your needs. But do not exceed the specified pressure of 10.6 kPa (approximately 0.1 kg / cm2).
4. Gently rotate the wheel of the oxygen-air mixture supply regulator.
5. Make sure that the patient inhales the therapeutic gas through the mouth, and exhales through the nose.
6. After each exhalation, the tap should be closed, and when inhaling, open (or squeeze the silicone hose).
7. The duration of inhalation is 5-7 minutes. However, it is recommended to take breaks of 5-10 minutes, since oxygen dries the mucous membranes of the nose, larynx and oral cavity, causing irritation and discomfort.
8. After using the entire mixture, the pillow must be slightly filled with air (inflated) to prevent the internal rubber walls from sticking together.

Rules for storing a medical oxygen cushion

It is necessary to store the product only in the unfolded form; in a place protected from light; at a temperature of 1-25 °C and a humidity of 65-85% in the room. The oxygen bag must not come into contact with an open fire, household appliances, sharp objects, aggressive chemicals and fuel and lubricants.

How can I re-fill the pillow with oxygen?

There are several options for filling the bag with a new portion of oxygen:

1. In a polyclinic, hospital or other medical institution where the doctor prescribed a course of oxygen therapy.
2. In pharmacies. However, not all pharmaceutical institutions offer the service of filling a medical pillow with oxygen.

If the patient needs oxygen at home all the time, then the best solution is to buy oxygen cylinders and fill the pillow yourself, so as not to go to the clinic or to pharmacies every time.

Where is it profitable to buy a reusable oxygen pillow?

A portable oxygen pillow can be ordered in the online store of medical equipment MEDIKA (Kiev) at the lowest prices. The range includes products with a volume of 30, 42 and 50 liters. Each kit includes a nasal cannula and a mouthpiece. In our offer there is also a special mask for an oxygen pillow, which can be purchased separately. Delivery is carried out to all cities and regions of Ukraine by the services of New Mail, according to the carrier's tariffs.