What is the primary purpose of a Venturi mask?

The primary purpose of a Venturi mask is to deliver a specific flow rate of oxygen. This device is designed to mix a precise amount of room air with a set high concentration of oxygen, which allows for delivery of a controlled oxygen concentration to the patient. The mask does this by utilizing the Bernoulli principle, where the high flow of oxygen creates a vacuum that draws in a specific amount of ambient air through color-coded adapters that correspond to various oxygen concentrations.

This capability makes the Venturi mask particularly useful in patients with respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as it helps stabilize their oxygen levels while allowing for adequate ventilation. It differs from low-flow oxygen devices by providing a set percentage of oxygen regardless of the patient’s respiratory pattern. While supplemental oxygen is indeed provided, this mask is distinct in its precision in flow rate and oxygen concentration.