Abstract
Ten hypoxic patients with severe chronic obstructive lung disease were treated with continuous low-flow nasal oxygen for periods averaging about four weeks in the hospital. During this period, all patients improved clinically, and had reversal of secondary polycythemia. No patient developed clinically significant hypercapnia due to nasal oxygen treatment. Eight patients were later treated at home with nocturnal oxygen averaging 8 hr nightly, for periods of up to 1 yr. Prior to treatment, 7 of the 10 had required phlebotomies. Only 1 has required a repeat phlebotomy post-treatment, due to a recurrence of secondary polycythemia. No patient has required rehospitalization since the initiation of oxygen treatment, despite the previous history of several hospitalizations. Seven out of 8 patients have had sustained clinical improvement using nocturnal oxygen supplementation in the home. Continuous 24 hr/day oxygen therapy is confirmed as beneficial in reversing cardiopulmonary and hematological changes due to hypoxia. Nocturnal oxygen treatment continued on an outpatient basis appears to have a place in the maintenance of the hospital-acquired improvement of such hypoxic patients. Nocturnal oxygen treatment is beneficial, practical and relatively inexpensive. It is recommended that nocturnal oxygen be used therapeutically for prolonged periods in hypoxic bronchitic patients who have secondary polycythemia and/or cor pulmonale. It is suggested that oxygen therapy might be used prophylactically as well.
Published Version
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