[Control of respiration in patients with respiratory insufficiency in chronic obstructive lung disease]

Twenty eight COPD patients with respiratory insufficiency were studied. These included: 12 hypoxemic and normocapnic patients, 16 hypoxemic and hypercapnic patients, and 22 healthy volunteers. During at rest respiration both COPD groups differed from the control group--demonstrating a higher respiratory incidence, VT/Ti and PO2 values. During hypercapnic stimulation using the rebreathing method the ventilatory response to CO2 in the COPD patients was lowered in comparison with the control. Increase of occlusion pressure as a response to the increasing hypercapnia was lowered in both groups, significantly in patients with hypercapnia.