Helium-hyperoxia, exercise, and respiratory mechanics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
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 (FEV(1) = 47 +/- 17%pred [mean +/- SD]) performed randomized constant-load cycling at 60% of maximal work rate breathing air, hyperoxia (40% O(2), 60% N(2)), normoxic helium (21% O(2), 79% He), or helium-hyperoxia (40% O(2), 60% He).


METHODS
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 H(2)O(-1)) and the work to overcome intrinsic positive end-expiratory pressure (7.7 +/- 1.9 vs. 3.6 +/- 2.1 L . cm H(2)O(-1)). At symptom limitation, tidal volume remained augmented with both helium mixtures, but IC and the work of breathing were unchanged compared with air.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining helium and hyperoxia delays dynamic hyperinflation and improves respiratory mechanics, which translates into added improvements in exercise tolerance for patients with COPD.
Eves
Neil D
ND
Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4. neves@ucalgary.ca
Petersen
Stewart R
SR
Haykowsky
Mark J
MJ
Wong
Eric Y
EY
Jones
Richard L
RL
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D006371:Helium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000187:drug effects*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000187:drug effects
D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D010100:Oxygen