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01-01-2011 | Editorial

Oxygen: when is more the enemy of good?

Authors: Richard D. Branson, Bryce R. H. Robinson

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 1/2011

Excerpt

Oxygen is a drug. As a drug, it is unique in that humans are continuously exposed to a low, homeopathic dose from the atmosphere. Clinically, the primary indication for supplemental oxygen is to reverse hypoxemia. This drug is unique in that it is regularly delivered in unknown doses to patients without indications or attempts at titration. The casual use of oxygen by the health community may simply be secondary to the ease of application via the respiratory tract and the misnomer that too much oxygen is clearly better than too little. However, as with many medical therapies, better can be the enemy of good. …

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Title: Oxygen: when is more the enemy of good?
Authors: Richard D. Branson
Bryce R. H. Robinson
Publication date: 01-01-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-010-2034-y

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