QUICK LOOK
Current knowledge
Supplemental oxygen during exercise reduces dyspnea
and improves exercise performance in patients with
hypoxemia due to chronic lung disease. Pulse-dose
oxygen systems conserve oxygen, but their ability to
reverse exercise hypoxemia is suspect.
What this paper contributes to our knowledge
During the 6-min walk test, 20% percent of the subjects
with severe COPD and oxygen desaturation failed to
achieve re-saturation (SpO2 90%), even at the maximum
flow provided by the pulse-dose system. With the
pulse-dose system, failure to correct exercise desaturation
occurred in about 40% of subjects with interstitial
lung disease. Oxygen flow titration during exercise
should be accomplished on a per patient basis, with the
device being considered for use