Relief of hypoxia-related bronchoconstriction by breathing 30 per cent oxygen. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Airway resistance decreases when hypoxemic subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) breathe 30% O2. To verify this finding and to localize the site of action of O2, flow-volume curves on air and helium-O2 mixtures were obtained before and after subjects breathed 30% O2. Patients with COPD and hypoxemia showed an increase in flow rates and a decrease in the density dependence of flow while breathing 30% O2. Atropine produced a similar change in flow rates and density dependence, but then no further change occurred with 30% O2. Five control subjects with COPD, who performed the same sequence of tests without breathing 30% O2, showed no change in flow rates or density dependence. Normal control subjects also showed no change in flow rates or density dependence while breathing 30% O2. Breathing 30% O2, relieves hypoxia-induced bronchoconstriction and appears to act on large airways.

publication date

  • February 1, 1981

Research

keywords

  • Hypoxia
  • Lung Diseases, Obstructive
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0019436424

PubMed ID

  • 7235355

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 123

issue

  • 2