Refillable oxygen cylinders may be an alternative for ambulatory oxygen therapy in COPD.
OBJECTIVE
To compare, in clinical conditions, the efficacy of refilled oxygen cylinders (O2-HFs) in improving oxygenation and exercise capacity of patients with COPD during a 6-min walking test.


METHODS
Prospective randomized study with a cross-over design.


METHODS
A university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Ten patients with COPD, in a stable state and previously treated with long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy. Baseline characteristics were as follows: age, 65 +/- 7 years; PaO2 on room air, 55.4 +/- 6.3 mm Hg; PaCO2 on room air, 46.2 +/- 7.4 mm Hg; FEV1/vital capacity, 47 +/- 7%; and FEV1, 30 +/- 7% of predicted value (mean +/- SD).


METHODS
All patients performed three successive 6-min walking tests, the first test in room air and the other tests in a randomized order with either a conventional oxygen cylinder (O2-C) or an O2-HF.


RESULTS
The fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) delivered by O2-HFs was significantly lower than the FIO2 delivered by O2-Cs (94.2 +/- 2.6% vs 98.8 +/- 4.9%, p = 0.02). Mean O2-HF and O2-C weights before the walking tests were similar (3,510 +/- 251 g and 3,770 +/- 142 g, respectively; p = 0.09). Mean transcutaneous oxygen saturation was similarly improved with both oxygen delivery systems. Mean distances with O2-C (373.5 +/- 81 m) and O2-HF (375 +/- 97 m) were not different but significantly improved, as compared with room air (334.5 +/- 90 m; p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Dyspnea sensations were similar for the three tests.


CONCLUSIONS
O2-HFs are as efficient as O2-Cs for performing short-term exercises. Because of a lower cost, pressurizing units may be worthwhile for improving ambulatory oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
Cuvelier
Antoine
A
Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital de Bois-Guillaume, CHU de Rouen, Rouen, France. antoine.cuvelier@chu-rouen.fr
Nuir
Jean-François
JF
Chakroun
Nadia
N
Aboab
Jérôme
J
Onea
Gabriella
G
Benhamou
Daniel
D
D000368:Aged; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology