Clinical experience and physiologic results with an implantable intratracheal oxygen catheter

Ten patients with chronic lung disease received an implanted ITOC. Seven patients continue to use their catheters after a mean period of 14.75 months. Four catheters were removed, 2 at 1 month, 1 after 10 months and 1 after 13 months. One patient requested a second catheter. Three patients experienced mucus plug formation; this was transient in two patients, but led to removal of the catheter in the third. To determine the degree of oxygen-saving afforded by the ITOC, SaO2 was measured at rest and during exercise for eight of the ten subjects using a double-blind technique. The calculated oxygen savings were around 40 percent both at rest and during exercise. The ITOCs were well received by the majority of our patients and were shown to produce a useful saving of oxygen which is of benefit to patients using portable systems and those who require high oxygen flow rates.