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Airway & ventilation
Predictors of hyperoxaemia after prehospital oxygen
Independent predictors of hyperoxemia following prehospital oxygen therapy: A prospective cohort study
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine · Added 16 August 2026
Prospective cohort of 245 patients found 24.5% had hyperoxemia (PaO₂ >120 mmHg), with intubation (OR 38.89) and transport duration ≥24 min (OR 13.74) as independent predictors.
- Study type
- Cohort
- Design
- Prospective single-centre cohort
- Participants
- 245 adults transported by ambulance receiving oxygen
- Main finding
- 24.5% were hyperoxaemic (PaO2 >120 mmHg) on ED arrival; independent predictors were intubation (OR 38.89) and transport duration ≥24 min (OR 13.74); ED SpO2 ≥96.5% predicted hyperoxaemia with AUC 0.70
- Caveat
- Single-centre study at one tertiary ED, limiting generalisability
- Bottom line
- Hypothesis-generating
Why it matters in Australia (High relevance). Directly relevant to daily paramedic practice, clear actionable findings about oxygen titration and reassessment during transport.
Learning goal
Refine my titration of prehospital oxygen therapy to recognise and avoid hyperoxaemia, particularly in intubated patients.
More
- Topic: Airway & ventilation
- Daily scan: 16 August 2026
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