Hemodynamic responses to controlled 100% oxygen breathing in emphysema

¹ Department of Medicine, Medical College of Alabama, and Veterans Administration Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama

Cardiopulmonary hemodynamic responses to breathing 100% oxygen for 20 min were studied in 13 patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive emphysema under conditions of controlled ventilation. A technique for regulating the level of ventilation in the unanesthetized subject is described. Cardiac output was measured by the indicator-dilution method. Arterial blood gas analysis and pH were performed in each phase of the study. A slight but statistically significant decrease in cardiac index occurred. There was a highly significant reduction in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance. No change in heart rate, pulmonary wedge pressure, or aortic pressure occurred. It is concluded that oxygen breathing caused a release, in part at least, of a pulmonary vasoconstrictive element in these patients.

Submitted on May 27, 1964