Published ahead of print on July 13, 2006, doi:10.1164/rccm.200509-1533OC
© 2006 American Thoracic Society doi: 10.1164/rccm.200509-1533OC
Helium-Hyperoxia, Exercise, and Respiratory Mechanics in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary DiseaseFaculties of Physical Education and Recreation, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Neil D. Eves, Ph.D., Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 1N4. E-mail: neves{at}ucalgary.ca Rationale: Hyperoxia and normoxic helium independently reduce dynamic hyperinflation and improve the exercise tolerance of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Combining these gases could have an additive effect on dynamic hyperinflation and a greater impact on respiratory mechanics and exercise tolerance. Objective: To investigate whether helium-hyperoxia improves the exercise tolerance and respiratory mechanics of patients with COPD. Methods: Ten males with COPD (FEV1 = 47 ± 17%pred [mean ± SD]) performed randomized constant-load cycling at 60% of maximal work rate breathing air, hyperoxia (40% O2, 60% N2), normoxic helium (21% O2, 79% He), or helium-hyperoxia (40% O2, 60% He). Measurements: Exercise time, inspiratory capacity (IC), work of breathing, and exertional symptoms were measured with each gas. Results: Compared with air (9.4 ± 5.2 min), exercise time was increased with hyperoxia (17.8 ± 5.8 min) and normoxic helium (16.7 ± 9.1 min) but the improvement with helium-hyperoxia (26.3 ± 10.6 min) was greater than both these gases (p = 0.019 and p = 0.007, respectively). At an isotime during exercise, all three gases reduced dyspnea and both helium mixtures increased IC and tidal volume. Only helium-hyperoxia significantly reduced the resistive work of breathing (15.8 ± 4.2 vs. 10.1 ± 4.1 L · cm H2O–1) and the work to overcome intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (7.7 ± 1.9 vs. 3.6 ± 2.1 L · cm H2O–1). At symptom limitation, tidal volume remained augmented with both helium mixtures, but IC and the work of breathing were unchanged compared with air. Conclusion: Combining helium and hyperoxia delays dynamic hyperinflation and improves respiratory mechanics, which translates into added improvements in exercise tolerance for patients with COPD.
Key Words: dynamic hyperinflation • dyspnea • expiratory flow limitation • pulmonary function • work of breathing This article has been cited by other articles:
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