THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Recommendations have been developed for home oxygen therapy in children with chronic respiratory conditions; the clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society was published in the Feb. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Don Hayes Jr., M.D., from The Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues developed recommendations for or against home oxygen therapy specific to pediatric lung and pulmonary vascular diseases.
The recommendations include prescription of home oxygen therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis complicated by severe chronic hypoxemia (strong recommendation) and with both mild chronic hypoxemia and dyspnea on exertion (conditional recommendation). Home oxygen therapy is also recommended for patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia complicated by chronic hypoxemia (strong recommendation), patients with sickle cell disease complicated by severe chronic hypoxemia (conditional recommendation), and some patients with sleep-disordered breathing complicated by severe nocturnal hypoxemia (conditional recommendation). For patients with pulmonary hypertension without congenital heart disease complicated by chronic hypoxemia, home oxygen therapy is recommended (strong recommendation). Home oxygen therapy should not be initiated in children with pulmonary hypertension with congenital heart disease complicated by chronic hypoxemia until consultation with a pediatric pulmonologist or cardiologist with expertise in the management of pulmonary hypertension in this setting (strong recommendation).
"Research should address the relationship between oxygen saturation levels and growth and development as well as identifying best practices for weaning and discontinuing home oxygen therapy," Hayes said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to pharmaceutical and medical device companies.
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