Fact Check: Can Nebulizer be used as an alternative for oxygen cylinder?

Team Udayavani, Apr 27, 2021, 12:22 PM IST

Source: Unsplash

India is currently combatting the second wave of the novel coronavirus and the country is losing lives tragically due to lack of oxygen supply.

As people are looking for leads to procure oxygen cylinders, a video recently went viral on Twitter where Dr. Alok from Faridabad’s Sarvoday Hospital claimed that an empty nebulizer can improve the level of blood oxygen.

Nebulizers are devices that turn medicine into a fine mist which can be then breathed in through a mask.

In the video, the doctor says, “I am showing you a trick. You can do this. This is the nebulizer. This is the machine where we put the medicine. But don’t use any medicine. Use the empty nebulizer. Sit down. Put it on your nose and switch on the machine.”

He further adds, “There is enough oxygen in the environment. Don’t rush after oxygen cylinders. Don’t put your life at stake. Stay at home. Thank you.”

https://twitter.com/AwanishSharan/status/1385571274852737030

Soon the video went viral on social media platforms and many healthcare experts called out the misleading claims. In fact, Sarvodaya Hospital clarified that it does not endorse the information given by the doctor.

The hospital wrote in its clarification, “The video has not been backed by any evidence or scientific study, does not reflect any medical advice, and is in no way endorsed by Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad.”

Always consult a medical practitioner before following any #medication practice, especially for #treatment of severe conditions. Do not fall prey to any information without an authorized source.#awareness #SarvodayaHealthcare #SHRC pic.twitter.com/itTVLfYqkd

— Sarvodaya Healthcare (@Sarvodaya_Care) April 23, 2021

Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin, Chairman of the Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Medanta slammed the video, calling it baseless.

The video demonstrating a purported technique that can substitute a nebulizer machine for an oxygen cylinder to improve blood oxygen levels is totally baseless. It should be discredited.

— Dr. Arvinder Singh Soin (@ArvinderSoin) April 24, 2021

After getting a lot of backlash on social media from medical professionals, Dr. Alok released another video and said that nebulizer is not an alternative to oxygen cylinders.

Dr. Alok apologize for his viral video regarding use of nebuliser machine. #sarvodayahospital #nebulizermachine #oxygen #dralok pic.twitter.com/d7APD3Z7d5

— H-tee (@Htee48738577) April 24, 2021