Oxygen

[Extract] Oxygen is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, which includes the most efficacious, safe and cost-effective medicines for priority conditions. It is one of the most commonly used treatments in hospitalised patients, yet the evidence on its optimal use to improve clinical outcomes and reduce possible harm is relatively sparse. Oxygen should be prescribed like any other medication, for a specific indication, with a specific dose and with monitoring of the therapeutic response, but prescribing practices are often poor, increasing the risk of an adverse outcome.