Effects of the self-contained breathing apparatus on left-ventricular function at rest and during graded exercise.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on left-ventricular (LV) function at rest and during mild- to moderate-intensity exercise, using 2-dimensional echocardiography. Twenty-three healthy male volunteers exercised on a stair-climber at work rates equivalent to 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% of peak oxygen consumption. Esophageal pressure LV diastolic and systolic cavity areas, and myocardial areas were acquired during the final minute of each stage of exercise.

Helium-hyperoxia: a novel intervention to improve the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD.

Background: Helium-hyperoxia (HH) reduces dyspnea and increases exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. We investigated whether breathing HH would allow patients to perform a greater intensity of exercise and improve the benefits of a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Methods: Thirty-eight nonhypoxemic patients with COPD (FEV(1)=47 +/- 17%(pred)) were randomized to rehabilitation breathing HH (60:40 He:O(2); n = 19) or air (n = 19).

Effects of high-frequency chest wall oscillation on pleural pressure and oscillated flow.

The effectiveness of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HF-CWO) is directly related to the level of oscillated flow (osc) in the airways. We used the Vest system to investigate the effects of HFCWO on chest wall and pleural pressures and we correlated these pressures to the resultant osc. We also compared the latest HFCWO device with it predecessor.

Effects of self-contained breathing apparatus on ventricular function during strenuous exercise.

The purpose of this study was to investigate left-ventricular function during strenuous exercise with the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). With the use of two-dimensional echocardiography, images of the left ventricle (LV) were acquired during sustained exercise (3 x 10 min) under two conditions: 1) SCBA, or 2) low resistance breathing valve. Twenty healthy men volunteered for the study, and in each condition subjects wore fire protective equipment.

Impaired exercise ventilatory mechanics with the self-contained breathing apparatus are improved with heliox.

The effect of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with compressed air (BA-A) on ventilatory mechanics, work of breathing (WOB), pulmonary function, and respiratory muscle fatigue, was compared with that of a low resistance breathing valve (LRV). Further, the effect of unloading the respiratory muscles with heliox with the SCBA (BA-H) was compared with BA-A and LRV. Twelve men completed three randomized exercise trials on separate days, each consisting of three 10 min bouts of stepping exercise (Bouts 1, 2, and 3) separated by a 5 min recovery.

Effects of changes in lung volume on oscillatory flow rate during high-frequency chest wall oscillation.

Background: The effectiveness of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) in mucolysis and mucous clearance is thought to be dependant on oscillatory flow rate (Fosc). Therefore, increasing Fosc during HFCWO may have a clinical benefit.

Objectives: To examine effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on Fosc at two oscillation frequencies in healthy subjects and patients with airway obstruction.

The effects of helium-hyperoxia on 6-min walking distance in COPD: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: We hypothesized that breathing helium-hyperoxia (HeO2) would significantly improve 6-min walking test (6MWT) distance in COPD subjects.

Methods: This was a blinded, randomized crossover study. At visit 1, we assessed pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and 6MWT distance.

Work of breathing is increased during exercise with the self-contained breathing apparatus regulator.

The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) increases the expiratory pressure required to maintain high rates of ventilation, suggesting that the expiratory work of breathing (WOB) is increased; however, this has never been reported. The objective of this study, therefore, was to determine if the WOB is increased with the SCBA regulator (BA condition) compared with a low-resistance breathing valve (RV condition) during exercise. Twelve healthy male subjects underwent two randomized exercise trials, consisting of cycling at 150, 180, 210, and 240 W.

The effects of body mass index on lung volumes.

Background: Obesity is a major health issue in North America, and the trend is for obesity to be a more important medical issue in the future. Since obesity can cause respiratory symptoms, many obese people are referred for pulmonary function tests (PFTs). It is well known that obesity causes decreases in lung volumes, but there has never been a large study showing the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the various lung volumes.

Helium-hyperoxia, exercise, and respiratory mechanics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: 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.

Effects of the self-contained breathing apparatus and fire protective clothing on maximal oxygen uptake.

To examine the effects of firefighting personal protective ensemble (PPE) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on exercise performance, 12 males completed two randomly ordered, graded exercise treadmill tests (GXTPPE and GXTPT). Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) during GXTPPE was 17.3% lower than the GXTPT in regular exercise clothing (43.

The impact of exercise training intensity on change in physiological function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pulmonary rehabilitation incorporating exercise training is an effective method of enhancing physiological function and quality of life for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite the traditional belief that exercise is primarily limited by the inability to adequately increase ventilation to meet increased metabolic demands in these patients, significant deficiencies in muscle function, oxygen delivery and cardiac function are observed that contribute to exercise limitation. Because of this multifactorial exercise limitation, defining appropriate exercise training intensities is difficult.

Cost analysis of intensive glycemic control in critically ill adult patients.

Study Objectives: To assess the effect of an intensive glycemia management protocol on the cost of care of a heterogeneous population of critically ill adult patients.

Design: Economic analysis of a 1,600-patient "before-and-after" study of intensive glycemia management.

Setting: Fourteen-bed mixed medical-surgical adult ICU of a university-affiliated community teaching hospital.

Effect of acute increases in pulmonary vascular pressures on exercise pulmonary gas exchange.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute increases in pulmonary vascular pressures, caused by the application of lower-body positive pressure (LBPP), on exercise alveolar-to-arterial PO2 difference (A-aDO2), anatomical intrapulmonary (IP) shunt recruitment, and ventilation. Eight healthy men performed graded upright cycling to 90% maximal oxygen uptake under normal conditions and with 52 Torr (1 psi) of LBPP. Pulmonary arterial (PAP) and pulmonary artery wedge pressures (PAWP) were measured with a Swan-Ganz catheter.

Does fitness level modulate the cardiovascular hemodynamic response to exercise?

Subjects with greater aerobic fitness demonstrate better diastolic compliance at rest, but whether fitness modulates exercise cardiac compliance and cardiac filling pressures remains to be determined. On the basis of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), healthy male subjects were categorized into either low (LO: VO2max=43+/-6 ml.kg-1.

The influence of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on ventilatory function and maximal exercise.

Our previous work showed that breathing low density gases during exercise with the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) improves maximal ventilation (V(E)) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2)max). This suggests that the SCBA limits exercise by adding a resistive load to breathing. In this study we compared VO(2)max with and without the various components comprising the SCBA to determine their impact on VO(2)max.

High-frequency chest compression: a summary of the literature.

The purpose of the present literature summary is to describe high-frequency chest compression (HFCC), summarize its history and outline study results on its effect on mucolysis, mucus transport, pulmonary function and quality of life. HFCC is a mechanical method of self-administered chest physiotherapy, which induces rapid air movement in and out of the lungs. This mean oscillated volume is an effective method of mucolysis and mucus clearance.

Effects of prolonged exercise to exhaustion on left-ventricular function and pulmonary gas exchange.

The purpose of this study was to simultaneously examine left-ventricular (LV) function and pulmonary gas exchange during prolonged constant-rate cycling in an attempt to explain the exercise-induced impairment in gas exchange. Eleven competitive cyclists rode their racing bicycles on a computerized cycle trainer at 25 W below the lactate threshold until exhaustion (exercise time = 2.51 +/- 0.

Intra-pulmonary shunt and pulmonary gas exchange during exercise in humans.

In young, healthy people the alveolar-arterial P(O(2)) difference (A-aDO(2)) is small at rest, but frequently increases during exercise. Previously, investigators have focused on ventilation/perfusion mismatch and diffusion abnormalities to explain the impairment in gas exchange, as significant physiological intra-pulmonary shunt has not been found. The aim of this study was to use a non-gas exchange method to determine if anatomical intra-pulmonary (I-P) shunts develop during exercise, and, if so, whether there is a relationship between shunt and increased A-aDO(2).

Effects of helium and 40% O2 on graded exercise with self-contained breathing apparatus.

Maximal exercise performance is decreased when breathing from a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), owing to a ventilatory limitation imposed by the increased expiratory resistance. To test the hypothesis that decreasing the density of the breathing gas would improve maximal exercise performance, we studied 15 men during four graded exercise tests with the SCBA. Participants breathed a different gas mixture during each test: normoxia (NOX; 21% O2, 79% N2), hyperoxia (HOX; 40% O2, 60% N2), normoxic helium (HE-OX; 21% O2, 79% He), and hyperoxic helium (HE-HOX; 40% O2, 60% He).

The effects of cycle racing on pulmonary diffusion capacity and left ventricular systolic function.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 20 km cycle race (TT) on left ventricular (LV) systolic and pulmonary function in 12 endurance cyclists. Spirometry, single-breath diffusion capacity (DLCO) with partitioning of membrane (DM) and capillary blood volume (Vc) components and 2-D echocardiograms were performed before and after the TT. During the TT mean oxygen consumption was 3.

Submaximal exercise with self-contained breathing apparatus: the effects of hyperoxia and inspired gas density.

Background: The self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) used by firefighters, and other working in dangerous environments, adds an external resistance to expiration, which increases expiratory work during heavy exercise.

Hypothesis: Compressed air is typically used with the SCBA and we hypothesized that changing the inspired oxygen concentration and/or gas density with helium would reduce the external expiratory resistance.

Methods: On separate days, 15 men completed four 30-min bouts of treadmill exercise dressed in protective clothing and breathing the test gases through the SCBA.

Effects of positive end-expiratory pressure on oscillated volume during high frequency chest compression in children with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: To investigate the effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) and mean oscillated volume (V(osc)) during high frequency chest compression (HFCC).

Design: A clinic-based prospective intervention study.

Setting: Pulmonary function laboratory, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.