To correct a low oxygen concentration when using an oxygen hood at 50% FIO2, what adjustment should be made to the nebulizer?

• A. Change the nebulizer entrainment port to 100%
• B. Adjust the blender setting to 60%
• C. Increase total flow to the oxyhood
• D. Obtain a smaller oxyhood

Answer: (A)

When using an oxygen hood set to provide a specific fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2), such as 50%, it’s important to ensure that the ambient oxygen concentration within the hood is sufficient for the patient’s needs. If the oxygen concentration is too low, adjusting the nebulizer's entrainment port to 100% is the correct action because it effectively increases the concentration of oxygen delivered to the patient.

Setting the nebulizer to 100% oxygen means that the mist being generated will provide the purest form of oxygen available, which can raise the FIO2 in the oxygen hood. This adjustment allows for the delivery of more oxygen without changing the overall flow dynamics within the system.

In this case, while options like adjusting the blender setting or increasing total flow might seem reasonable, they do not specifically target the immediate low oxygen concentration within the hood as directly as changing the nebulizer’s entrainment port does. Moreover, obtaining a smaller oxyhood may not resolve the issue of low oxygen concentration effectively, as it could potentially restrict airflow further rather than enhance oxygen delivery.