Oxygen Hood: Uses, Indications, and Precautions (2025)

An oxygen hood is an essential piece of equipment in neonatal care, designed to provide non-invasive oxygen therapy to newborns and infants who require respiratory support.

This specialized device ensures a controlled and consistent supply of oxygen, helping maintain appropriate oxygen saturation levels for babies with underdeveloped lungs or specific medical conditions.

Understanding the uses, benefits, and precautions associated with oxygen hood therapy is vital for healthcare professionals and parents alike, as it plays a critical role in promoting the health and well-being of infants during their early stages of life.

What is an Oxygen Hood?

An oxygen hood is a medical device designed to provide oxygen therapy primarily to infants and newborns who require respiratory support. Shaped like a dome, the hood is placed over the infant’s head and delivers a controlled flow of humidified oxygen to ensure optimal oxygenation.

This method is noninvasive and allows for effective oxygen delivery without direct contact with the baby’s face, which helps minimize stress and discomfort. The oxygen hood is often used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to maintain adequate blood oxygen levels while allowing caregivers easy access for monitoring and care.

Uses

An oxygen hood is primarily used in neonatal care for the following purposes:

• Providing Supplemental Oxygen: Helps newborns who have difficulty maintaining oxygen levels due to underdeveloped lungs or breathing issues. Commonly used for conditions like transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) or mild respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).
• Maintaining Oxygen Saturation Levels: Ensures a consistent oxygen concentration to maintain blood oxygen saturation at a therapeutic level and prevent hypoxemia, reducing the risk of complications.
• Noninvasive Respiratory Support: Provides a comfortable, less intrusive method of oxygen delivery compared to nasal prongs or masks and avoids nasal passage irritation.
• Assisting Infants with Specific Conditions: Supports premature infants with underdeveloped lungs, babies with meconium aspiration syndrome, or those with neonatal pneumonia needing oxygenation during treatment.
• Controlled and Monitored Oxygen Therapy: Allows medical staff to adjust oxygen concentration and flow rate to meet the infant’s needs. Delivers warmed, humidified air to prevent dryness and maintain body temperature.
• Temporary Breathing Assistance Post-Surgery: Used for newborns or infants needing oxygen support during recovery after certain surgical procedures.
• Supporting Babies with Apnea or Irregular Breathing Patterns: Provides a consistent oxygen supply to reduce the severity of apneic episodes in infants prone to pauses in breathing.

Note: Oxygen hoods are essential for safe and effective oxygen therapy in newborns and infants, promoting better outcomes and comfort.

Indications

The oxygen hood is an essential tool in neonatal care, designed to deliver non-invasive, consistent oxygen therapy to newborns and infants with specific respiratory needs.

Here are the key indications for using an oxygen hood:

• Premature Infants: Provides vital respiratory support for babies with underdeveloped lungs requiring additional oxygen.
• Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS): Assists infants experiencing breathing difficulties soon after birth to maintain proper oxygenation.
• Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN): Supplies temporary oxygen support for infants with rapid breathing following delivery.
• Neonatal Pneumonia: Helps maintain adequate oxygen levels in infants undergoing treatment for pneumonia.
• Meconium Aspiration Syndrome: Ensures proper oxygenation for babies who inhaled meconium during birth.
• Post-Surgical Recovery: Offers oxygen assistance to infants during the recovery phase after surgery.
• Apnea and Irregular Breathing Patterns: Provides continuous oxygen supply for infants prone to breathing pauses to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes.
• Low Blood Oxygen Levels (Hypoxemia): Stabilizes and maintains safe blood oxygen saturation levels.
• Mild Respiratory Infections: Beneficial for infants with conditions that don’t need invasive support but still require supplemental oxygen.

Note: Providing targeted and controlled oxygen therapy helps promote better health outcomes during critical early life stages.

Hazards and Precautions

While an oxygen hood is highly beneficial for neonatal oxygen therapy, there are certain hazards and precautions that must be considered to ensure the safety and well-being of the infant:

Hazards

• Oxygen Toxicity: Prolonged exposure to high oxygen concentrations can lead to oxygen toxicity, which may cause lung damage or conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in premature infants.
• Hypothermia or Hyperthermia: Improper temperature regulation within the hood can result in the infant becoming too cold or too warm, affecting their comfort and health.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Accumulation: Inadequate ventilation in the hood can lead to CO2 buildup, posing a risk of hypercapnia.
• Drying of Airway Mucosa: Without proper humidification, the infant’s airway mucosa can become dry, leading to irritation and discomfort.
• Pressure Injuries: Incorrect placement or prolonged use may lead to pressure marks or injuries on the infant’s head or neck.
• Noise Stress: The oxygen flow may create noise within the hood, which can be stressful and uncomfortable for the infant.

Precautions

• Monitor Oxygen Levels: Continuous monitoring of oxygen concentration is essential to prevent oxygen toxicity and ensure the infant receives the appropriate level of oxygen.
• Temperature Control: Regularly check and adjust the temperature to keep the infant comfortable and avoid thermal stress.
• Ensure Proper Ventilation: Maintain adequate airflow to prevent CO2 accumulation and ensure that the infant breathes clean, oxygenated air.
• Use Humidified Oxygen: Always deliver humidified oxygen to prevent airway dryness and maintain mucosal health.
• Check Placement: Ensure the oxygen hood is correctly placed and not exerting undue pressure on the infant’s head or neck.
• Limit Noise Exposure: Use measures to minimize noise levels from oxygen flow to create a more comfortable environment for the infant.

Note: Taking these precautions helps mitigate potential risks and ensures that oxygen hood therapy is both safe and effective. By maintaining vigilant monitoring and proper handling, medical professionals can provide high-quality care and promote better respiratory health in infants.

FAQs About Oxygen Hoods

What is an Oxygen Hood Used For?

An oxygen hood is used to deliver supplemental oxygen to newborns and infants, particularly those who need non-invasive respiratory support. It creates an enclosed space around the infant’s head, ensuring a controlled environment with a consistent oxygen concentration.

This helps maintain proper blood oxygen levels, making it ideal for treating conditions like respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), transient tachypnea, or neonatal pneumonia.

What Are the Disadvantages of an Oxygen Hood?

While oxygen hoods are beneficial, there are some disadvantages. The main concerns include the risk of oxygen toxicity with prolonged high-concentration exposure, potential carbon dioxide buildup if ventilation is inadequate, and the challenge of temperature regulation, which can lead to hypothermia or hyperthermia.

Additionally, infants may become stressed by noise from the oxygen flow or experience discomfort from pressure if the hood is not properly positioned.

Is an Oxygen Hood the Same as a Nasal Cannula?

No, an oxygen hood is not the same as a nasal cannula. An oxygen hood encloses the infant’s head to provide a non-invasive, consistent flow of oxygen in a controlled environment.

In contrast, a nasal cannula consists of small prongs inserted into the nostrils to deliver oxygen directly, which can be less comfortable and more invasive for an infant.

Note: Both have their specific uses, depending on the level of respiratory support needed.

What is the Flow Rate of an Oxygen Hood for a Newborn?

The typical flow rate for an oxygen hood for a newborn is ≥7 liters per minute (L/min). This rate ensures that the oxygen concentration is sufficient and prevents carbon dioxide buildup within the hood.

Note: The specific flow rate may vary based on the infant’s condition and oxygen needs, as determined by the healthcare provider.

What is an Oxygen Tent in the NICU?

An oxygen tent is a larger, transparent enclosure used in the NICU to provide oxygen therapy for infants or children. It covers the entire body or a significant portion of the infant and allows for a controlled oxygen-rich environment.

Oxygen tents are used when higher concentrations of oxygen are needed over a larger area, but they are generally less commonly used now due to advancements in other forms of oxygen delivery.

What is the Difference Between an Oxygen Tent and an Oxygen Hood?

The main difference between an oxygen tent and an oxygen hood is their size and area of coverage. An oxygen hood is a smaller device that fits over the infant’s head, delivering targeted oxygen therapy.

An oxygen tent, on the other hand, covers a larger area, often the whole body or the upper torso, providing oxygen to a more extensive space. Oxygen hoods are generally preferred for neonatal use due to their ability to deliver more controlled and consistent oxygen levels directly around the infant’s head.

Final Thoughts

The oxygen hood is an invaluable device in neonatal respiratory care, offering a safe, effective, and gentle way to provide essential oxygen to infants who need it.

By carefully controlling oxygen levels, temperature, and humidity, healthcare providers can create an optimal environment that supports the infant’s developing lungs while minimizing potential risks.

Understanding the indications, benefits, and necessary precautions of oxygen hood therapy allows medical professionals to deliver high-quality care, ensuring better health outcomes for newborns during their critical early stages of life.