British Thoracic Society BTS

The BTS guideline "Emergency Oxygen Use in Adult Patients" was  published in the October 2008 issue of Thorax and is available to download here.

The Executive Summary of the Guideline is available here.

Information for Oxygen Champions is available here.

The following updates and corrections have been issued:

Use of emergency oxygen by voluntary rescue organisations.  Statement approved by the BTS Standards of Care Committee, June 2010.

New Appendix 5b: model patient information leaflet explaining oxygen alert cards. 17/8/09

Flow rate for a reservoir mask should be 15L/min.  Click here for details. 22/7/09

The Emergency Oxygen Alert Card is now available - click here. 

Section 10.2, page vi49: the title of Table 11 has been amended - click here for details. 15/6/09

Paragraphs 11.1.2 and 11.1.3, page vi 56 have been amended - click here for details. 20/2/09

Chart 1: correction.  Click here for details.

Chart 2: correction.  Click here for details.

Addendum: status epilepticus.  Click here for details.  27/10/08

1. Summary of recommendations.  Download here.
2. Summary of Guideline for hospital use.  Download here.
3. Example of local oxygen policy (updated 11/3/10).  Download here. 
4. Summary for prehospital settings.  Download here.
5a. Patient information sheet explaining emergency oxygen therapy.  Download here.
5b. Model patient information leaflet explaining oxygen alert cards. Download here.
6. Summary of prescription, etc.  Download here.
7. Example of audit tool.  For the latest audit tool information please go to: https://audits.brit-thoracic.org.uk/Default.aspx (Updated 11/10/10)
8. Lecture for doctors (updated 19/7/10).  Download here.
9. Teaching aids for nurses (updated 7/7/2010).  Download here.
10. Key points for hospital managers and oxygen champions.  Download here.
11. Key points for PCT managers.  Download here.
12. Key points for ambulance service managers.  Download here.
13. List of NHS Trusts with oxygen champions.  Download here.
14. Details of search methodology.  Download here.

15. Information for voluntary rescue organisations (New - June 2010)

Table 1 Critical illnesses requiring high levels of supplemental oxygen
Table 2 Serious illnesses requiring moderate levels of supplemental oxygen if the patient is hypoxaemic
Table 3 Patients requiring controlled or low-dose oxygen therapy
Table 4 Conditions for which oxygen is not required unless the patient is hypoxaemic
Chart 1 Oxygen prescription for acutely hypoxaemic patients in hospital
Chart 2 Flow chart for oxygen administration on general wards in hospitals
Chart 3 Working example of oxygen section for a hospital prescription chart.
Chart 4 Working example of the respiratory section of an observation chart for hospital use