Tag: Oxygen therapy

Over 3 million people worldwide are affected by respiratory failure each year, with mortality rates as high as 40% in severe cases. The first line treatment for respiratory failure involves a rapid, combined approach of immediate ventilatory support and targeted pharmacological intervention to address the root cause.

Oxygen, while naturally occurring in the air we breathe, is considered a medical gas and regulated as a drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when used for medical purposes. This means that medical oxygen, unlike the air around us, requires a prescription, must meet strict purity standards, and its use must be monitored by healthcare professionals.

Oxygen is the most abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust, but this essential component of our air has a complex identity. For those in healthcare and scientific fields, the question "does oxygen count as a substance?" leads to a nuanced answer that depends heavily on the context, particularly within the realms of chemistry and pharmacology.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies medical-grade oxygen as a prescription drug, a fact many people find surprising given that it's a vital part of the air we breathe. However, in higher concentrations for therapeutic use, is oxygen considered a drug, and why is it regulated with the same scrutiny as other medications? This article will explain the pharmacological and regulatory reasons for this classification.

A staggering one billion peripheral intravenous lines, a type of cannula, are used globally each year, making them one of the most common invasive medical procedures. But **what does a cannula look like**? The answer depends on its type, with appearances ranging from a simple oxygen tube to a complex, color-coded vascular access device.