Supplementary oxygen therapy is a treatment for hypoxemia, otherwise known as low oxygen levels in the blood. Oxygen is commonly used in the hospital, and also can be used by patients for long-term therapy at home. Oxygen should be considered as a drug, and therefore requires a formal prescription. It can be dangerous if administered excessively or insufficiently. For patients who are at risk of type 2 respiratory failure, such as those with COPD, severe chronic asthma, neuromuscular disorders, kyphoscoliosis, and obesity hypoventilation; the target saturation range should be 88 to 92 percent. For all other patients, the target saturation range should be 94 to 98 percent.
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