Long-term oxygen therapy: New insights and perspectives

Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) usually represents the final step in the management of severe chronic respiratory diseases: a large proportion of patients suffering from these conditions is involved and the corresponding impact for the Health Institutions and the Society is dramatically increasing. Although LTOT is well known and widely used since long ago in most modern countries, it still represents a challenging topic due to the huge amount of variables which can affect both its efficacy and effectiveness. Unfortunately, patients, doctors, care-givers, together with health institutions and political decision makers frequently have different visions on LTOT, thus highly contributing to obtain uneven results and changing outcomes. The focus of this volume is on new insights and novel perspectives of LTOT. Starting from consolidated experiences, it's aim is also to emphasize the strategic value of developing technologies and innovative organizational models uniquely to find out even more opportunities and advantages for the management of chronic respiratory patients needing long-term oxygen treatment.