RESUMEN
A prospective study of the therapeutic use of oxygen in a general hospital was carried out. 120 patients who received oxygen during the first 24 hours of their admission were included. Oxygen was prescribed continually for 113 patients (94%). This was administered with a Venturi mask in 116 patients (97%). Medium FiO2 prescribed initially was of 0.29 (SD = 0.04). Basal arterial blood gas measurement was performed on 101 patients (84%). PaO2 was equal to or lower than 60 mmHg in 69 (68%). Arterial blood gas measurement control was carried out in 51 patients (42.5%). Of the patients with basal PaO2 lower or equal to 60 mmHg, 44 (64%) were submitted to posterior control measurement. 32 of the latter group showed PaO2 higher than 60 mmHg. We observed important deficiencies: increased prescription in patients with PaO2 greater than 60 mmHg; the frequent noncontrol of arterial blood gas measurement; the lack of correction of FiO2 when the initial application of O2 did not increase the PaO2 higher than 60 mmHg.