Uronis, H.E., & Abernethy, A.P. (2008). Oxygen for relief of dyspnea: What is the evidence? Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 2(2), 89-94.
The objective was to summarize and evaluate evidence for the use of oxygen for the relief of dyspnea, with particular focus on situations in which oxygen is not already funded via long-term oxygen treatment guidelines.
The literature reviewed in this manuscript was dated 1980-2008. Early articles were used to support conclusions in the four articles dated 2007 (3) and 2008 (1).
Based on their evaluation of a single systematic review and meta-analysis, no conclusive benefit of oxygen therapy was determined among the cancer population. The authors recommend the N of one methodology, where oxygen or air should be used on an individual basis for breathlessness at rest or with exercise. They advocate this oxygen trial start with short-burst oxygen and continued use for specific patients who report reduction in breathlessness, regardless of level of hypoxia. They term this palliative oxygen rather than treatment of hypoxia.