Titration of Oxygen Levels During Mechanical Ventilation With Electronic Alerts

Titration of Inspired Oxygen During Mechanical Ventilation Using a Bedside Decision Support Tool

Fractional oxygen during mechanical ventilation, is a life sustaining therapy in the intensive care unit , used for about a million patients annually. Oxygen therapy needs to be tightly balanced as both hypoxia and hyperoxia are harmful. Establishing precision in oxygenation has significant implications for improving patient outcomes, resource utilization and reducing iatrogenic harm to a vulnerable population. The investigators propose an approach using a oxygen titration protocol consisting of electronic health records based alerts to guide oxygen adjustment.

The investigators will conduct a prospective randomized, clinical trial in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Ohio State University Medical Center. In the intervention arm, respiratory therapists' will conduct oxygen titration with the help of a novel, high fidelity, electronic health records based, protocol consisting of electronic alerts and decision support tool. Oxygen titration in the control arm will be done without alerts and will be per "current standard of care".

Participants for this study will be identified and recruited from patients admitted to the Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center and James Cancer Hospital, Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Critically ill subjects who require mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects without research authorization,
• Pregnancy,
• Pneumothorax,
• Carbon monoxide poisoning,
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Acute ST elevation Myocardial Infarction