Oxygen Hood

What are Oxygen Hoods?

Oxygen hoods are specialized devices used in paediatric care to enclose an infant's or small child's head, providing a controlled environment for oxygen therapy. These hoods are designed with a gas inlet port to deliver oxygen, and exhaled gas primarily exits through an opening around the neck. Oxygen hoods offer oxygen concentrations of up to 80% to 90%, efficient humidification, and the ability to control the temperature within the hood. Importantly, they also allow healthcare providers easy access to the child for additional care and monitoring. Oxygen hoods are a valuable tool in paediatric healthcare for delivering oxygen therapy to young patients while ensuring their comfort and well-being. Oxygen is supplied to the hood through large-bore tubing, ensuring a stable Fraction of Inspired Oxygen (FiO2) that can be adjusted within a range of 21% to 100%.

Let’s discuss the various Types of Oxygen Hoods: 

The choice of oxygen hood depends on factors such as the child's age, size, clinical condition, and the level of access required for care and monitoring. Each type of hood is used to provide oxygen therapy in a controlled and comfortable environment, especially for paediatric patients.

• Open Face Hood: This type leaves the child's face exposed while enclosing the rest of the head. It's useful when healthcare providers need access to the child's face for monitoring and care.
• Closed Hood: A fully enclosed hood that covers the entire head and often incorporates a viewing window or port for healthcare providers to observe the child. It provides a controlled environment with limited access.
• Helmets: These are semi-enclosed hoods that cover the entire head, but with a clear plastic shell over the face, allowing visibility and access to the child.
• Radiant Warmer Hood: Designed to be used in conjunction with an infant radiant warmer, this hood provides a warm and controlled environment for premature or low-birth-weight infants.
• Neonatal Hood: Specifically designed for neonates, these hoods cater to the unique needs of premature and full-term infants. They often have a smaller enclosure.
• Paediatric Oxygen Tents: While not hoods in the traditional sense, these are larger oxygen-enriched enclosures that can accommodate older children. They provide a controlled oxygen environment for paediatric patients.

What are the key Considerations for Medical Usage of Oxygen Hoods?

The key advantage of oxygen hoods lies in their ability to provide a stable FiO2 in a controlled environment while accommodating easy access to the infant or child for medical care. This controlled and monitored setting is crucial for the effective treatment of paediatric patients who may be more...