The Effect of Early Severe Hyperoxia in Adults Intubated in the Prehosptial Setting or Emergency Department: A Scoping Review

J Emerg Med. 2023 Dec;65(6):e495-e510. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

Abstract

Background: The detrimental effects of hyperoxia exposure have been well-described in patients admitted to intensive care units. However, data evaluating the effects of short-term, early hyperoxia exposure in patients intubated in the prehospital setting or emergency department (ED) have not been systematically reviewed.

Objective: Our aim was to quantify and describe the existing literature examining the clinical outcomes in ED patients exposed to hyperoxia within the first 24 h of mechanical ventilation.

Methods: This review was performed in concordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for scoping reviews. Two rounds of review using Rayyan QCRI software were performed for title and abstract screening and full-text search. Of the 2739 articles, 27 articles were retrieved after initial screening, of which 5 articles were excluded during the full-text screening, leaving 22 articles for final review and data extraction.

Results: Of 22 selected publications, 9 described patients with traumatic brain injury, 6 with cardiac arrest, 3 with multisystem trauma, 1 with stroke, 2 with septic shock, and 1 was heterogeneous. Three studies were randomized controlled trials. The available data have widely heterogeneous definitions of hyperoxia exposure, outcomes, and included populations, limiting conclusions.

Conclusions: There is a paucity of data that examined the effects of severe hyperoxia exposure in the acute, post-intubation phase of the prehospital and ED settings. Further research with standardized definitions is needed to provide more detailed guidance regarding early oxygen titration in intubated patients.

Keywords: cardiac arrest; early hyperoxia; emergency department; hyperoxia; intubation; mechanical ventilation; trauma; traumatic brain injury.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Heart Arrest*
  • Humans
  • Hyperoxia* / complications
  • Hyperoxia* / diagnosis
  • Oxygen
  • Respiration, Artificial

Substances

  • Oxygen