Choice of Method for Administration of Oxygen

The need for carefully controlled continuous oxygen therapy for patients with chronic obstructive airways disease has been amply stated (Campbell, 1960; Hutchison et al., 1964). Further, it has been suggested that patients with cardiogenic shock require as high a concentration of oxygen as possible in the inspired air (MacKenzie et al., 1964). It is surprising, therefore, that, with the exception of the Ventimask, little or no information is provided by the manufacturers of the many devices at present available in regard to the concentrations of oxygen likely to be delivered to the patient. Few data have been published comparing the performance of these various pieces of equipment in an attempt to define which is the most appropriate to use in a given set of circumstances.