The American review of respiratory disease
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Oxygen therapy is one of the most frequently ordered therapies for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a large percentage of these cases, oxygen therapy is supplied via nasal cannula. With the rising cost of medical care and the search for more effective means of oxygen delivery, a new oxygen-conserving nasal cannula (CNC) that incorporates a closely coupled 20-ml reservoir was developed. ⋯ Results indicate that when the CNC was compared with the SNC, arterial oxygen saturation levels were significantly different (p less than 0.001) at flow rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 L/min. Oxygen saturation were 2.9% higher at 0.5 L/min, 2.9% higher at 1 L/min, and 2.6% higher at 2 L/min for the CNC than for the SNC. In summary, the CNC offers a more efficient oxygen delivery system for those patients requiring supplemental oxygen administration by nasal cannula.