Long-term oxygen therapy in Australia.

Thoracic physicians in New South Wales, Australia, and conservative in their administration of long-term oxygen therapy. Relatively few patients are being treated with it at present. Those who are use oxygen cylinders and concentrators in their homes. Use of long-term therapy is restricted to two groups: first, well-motivated patients who, after investigation and treatment, continue to have PaO2 values below 60 mm Hg and evidence of complications arising from hypoxia; and second, a few patients who have central apnea and severe desaturation of hemoglobin during sleep.