Chronic alveolar hypoventilation helps to maintain the inspiratory muscle effort of COPD patients within sustainable limits

Mechanisms affecting exercise ventilatory inefficiency-airflow obstruction relationship in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background

Exercise ventilatory inefficiency is usually defined as high ventilation (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E} $$\end{document}V˙E) versus low CO₂ output (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2 $$\end{document}V˙CO2). The inefficiency may be lowered when airflow obstruction is severe because \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E} $$\end{document}V˙E cannot be adequately increased in response to exercise. However, the ventilatory inefficiency-airflow obstruction relationship differs to a varying degree. This has been hypothesized to be affected by increased dead space fraction of tidal volume (V_D/V_T), acidity, hypoxemia, and hypercapnia.

Methods

A total of 120 male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were enrolled. Lung function and incremental exercise tests were conducted, and \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E} $$\end{document}V˙E versus \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2 $$\end{document}V˙CO2 slope (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S) and intercept (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{I} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2I) were obtained by linear regression. Arterial blood gas analysis was also performed in 47 of the participants during exercise tests. V_D/V_T and lactate level were measured.

Results

V_D/V_Tpeak was moderately positively related to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S (r = 0.41) and negatively related to forced expired volume in 1 sec % predicted (FEV₁%) (r = − 0.27), and hence the FEV₁%- \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S relationship was paradoxical. The higher the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S, the higher the pH and P_aO₂, and the lower the P_aCO₂ and exercise capacity. \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{I} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2I was marginally related to V_D/V_Trest. The higher the \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{I} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2I, the higher the inspiratory airflow, work rate, and end-tidal PCO_2peak.

Conclusion

1) Dead space ventilation perturbs the airflow- \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S relationship, 2) increasing ventilation thereby increases \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S to maintain biological homeostasis, and 3) the physiology- \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{S} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2S- \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{E}/\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{CO}2\mathrm{I} $$\end{document}V˙E/V˙CO2I relationships are inconsistent in the current and previous studies.

Trial Registration

MOST 106–2314-B-040-025.

Quantitation of oxygen-induced hypercapnia in respiratory pump failure

PURPOSE

To determine the likelihood that clinicians know carbon dioxide levels before administering supplemental oxygen to patients with neuromuscular disorders, to quantitate the effect of oxygen therapy on carbon dioxide retention, and to explore hypercapnia contributing to the need to intubate and use of continuous noninvasive ventilatory support to avert it.

BASIC PROCEDURES

A retrospective chart review for patients with neuromuscular disorders intubated or having intubation averted by using continuous noninvasive ventilatory support with carbon dioxide known pre- and during oxygen administration.

MAIN FINDINGS

For only 2 of 316 patients who were intubated did clinicians know carbon dioxide levels prior to administering oxygen. For four cases, intubation was averted by continuous noninvasive ventilatory support and mechanical insufflation-exsufflation despite severe hypercapnia and acidosis. After initiating oxygen therapy, patients' carbon dioxide partial pressures increased 52.1±42.0mmHg in over as little as 20min.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should attempt to use continuous noninvasive ventilatory support and mechanical insufflation-exsufflation rather than supplemental oxygen to normalize blood gases for neuromuscular ventilatory failure and should be prepared to intubate hypercapnic patients for whom oxygen is administered.