USE OF INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE BREATHING IN THE PREVENTION OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE NARCOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH OXYGEN THERAPY

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Abstract
Thirty-five patients were studied to evaluate the role of intermittent positive pressure breathing in preventing the increasing hypercapnea associated with 100% O2 breathing in emphysematous patients. The breathing of 100% O2 produced a decrease in ventilation accompanied by an increase in arterial pressure of CO2 (PCO2). When the 100% O2 was administered by intermittent positive pressure breathing, there was a marked increase in ventilation associated with a sharp reduction in pCO2-The use of intermittent positive pressure breathing to administer 100% O2 prevented the rising hypercapnea usually found in these patients when 100% O2 was administered alone. In all but 2 patients, increasing hypercapnea was not only prevented by the use of intermittent positive pressure breathing, but that already present was reduced. The results obtained with intermittent positive pressure breathing were independent of its role as a vehicle for the administration of bronchodilators.