Oxygen saturation of 92 or 93 should not be considered critical, says Randeep Guleria

This level is only a buffer that enables a patient to reach hospital on time: AIIMS director

Oxygen saturation of 92 or 93 in COVID-19 patients should not be considered critical; instead, this level is only a buffer that enables the patient to reach hospital on time, according to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Randeep Guleria. In a statement released by the Health Ministry on Thursday, he advised that judicious use of oxygen was the need of the hour. “Misuse of oxygen cylinders is a serious matter of concern these days. A few people stock oxygen cylinders at home, fearing that they may need it later. This is not advisable. If your oxygen saturation level is 94% or above, it still means there is sufficient oxygen in the body. There is no need to panic. Misusing the same by a person with normal levels of oxygen can deprive someone whose saturation level is well below 90 or 80,” he stated. The Ministry statement said, “Oxygen is crucial for the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19, since the disease affects lung functioning. Shortness of breath or difficulty of breathing is one of the most common symptoms in patients with severe COVID-19. It also hampers the supply of oxygen to various parts of the body. They hence need oxygen therapy, to be supplied through medical oxygen’’.