Dtsch Arztebl Int
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Review Comparative Study
Oxygen Treatment in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine.
Oxygen treatment is often life-saving, but multiple studies in recent years have yielded evidence that the indiscriminate administration of oxygen to patients in the intensive care unit and emergency room can cause hyperoxia and thereby elevate mortality. ⋯ Hypoxemia should certainly be avoided, but the fact that the liberal administration of oxygen to patients in intensive care units and emergency rooms tends to increase morbidity and mortality implies the advisability of a conservative, normoxic oxygenation strategy.