The effect of 50% oxygen on PtCO in patients with stable COPD, bronchiectasis, and neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis: randomised cross-over trials.

Background: High-concentration oxygen therapy causes increased arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO) in patients with COPD, asthma, pneumonia, obesity and acute lung injury. The objective of these studies was to investigate whether this physiological response to oxygen therapy occurs in stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis, and bronchiectasis.

Methods: Three randomised cross-over trials recruited stable patients with neuromuscular disease or kyphoscoliosis (n = 20), bronchiectasis (n = 24), and COPD (n = 24).