oxygen in dying hospice patients

[bmel]

hey everyone, new here to the forum! and i just have a question that i can't seem to wrap my head around. When patients are on their last days, the doctor removes the meds, and nurses are providing morphine, why are some patients also applied o2? I know commonly they receive 2l, so is that keeping the patient alive? if they were to remove it would they die shortly after? just curious because it was something a couple of my nursing friends were discussing. what are the real benefits of the o2?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

also, everyone that is going to die gets fluid in the lungs correct? it's the natural process of death. is that considered pulmonary edema? or am I thinking death rattle

No. Nothing is absolute in human physiology. My father had no pulmonary edema or any extra pulmonary fluid. A patient with a terminal cardiac condition may not have pulmonary edema. A patient with a coagulopathy such as DIC dies from hemorrhage. A patient with a brain stem infarction will suffer cardiac arrest without pulmonary edema.

[heron, ASN, RN]

Some posters seem to think that the goal of hospice providers is to help people die.

It isn't.

Our goal is to help people who are dying.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Some posters seem to think that the goal of hospice providers is to help people die.

It isn't.

Our goal is to help people who are dying.

In my experience hospice was there to promote comfort. To support us through difficult decisions such as is it worth it to test and treat the latest likely MDR UTI? Support us when the new grad nurse panicked at our tough choices that were made. Help get my out of state siblings home and ensure we were prepared& ready with arrangements at the end. Held hands. Comforted cried. Followed up at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months.

Hospice was holistic support in the end of life.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

If suffering from pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure flat = death by pulmonary congestion.

I think that is how the Elephant Man died.

[bmel]

If suffering from pulmonary edema or congestive heart failure flat = death by pulmonary congestion.

also another question, even with the 2l nc if they laid flat, still death? or is that o2 helping?

[heron, ASN, RN]

OP, helping what?

If it's about providing comfort to patient or family, the question's already been answered: it depends.

If the question is about helping someone die more quickly vs. more slowly, the question is irrelevant.

OP, why do I think you're trying to elicit a specific answer and not getting the one you want?

[bmel]

prolong life

[Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM]

I'm not saying this to be mean...but do you really think that oxygen is the same as taking away a drug or an IV?

Oxygen is a comfort measure.

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I think that is how the Elephant Man died.

I thought his head was so heavy that his trachea was compressed when he fell asleep and his head tilted forward.

[heron, ASN, RN]

OP - also already answered: it still depends.

My antennas are up ... It's not unheard of for attorneys or their staff to go fishing for information on websites like this. I'm always a little suspicious of posts that hint at an undisclosed agenda.

My apologies, OP, if this is not true of you. I'm just saying it's how your questions come across to me.

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

I thought his head was so heavy that his trachea was compressed when he fell asleep and his head tilted forward.

I thought he had to sit up to breathe, so when he decided he'd had enough, he laid down flat and waited for the inevitable end to come. That's the movie version, anyway.

The Google version is either a collapsed trachea or a spinal cord injury from the heavy head.

Back to our other conversation about death.

[bmel]

Oh no I appreciate all the responses, and sorry if I came across as that.