[Long-term oxygen therapy of chronic pulmonary heart disease]

Pulmonary artery pressure was measured in 70 patients with chronic bronchitis. Those with pulmonary hypertension underwent two hours oxygen therapy (flow 10-12 l/min). Those in whom a decrease of pulmonary artery pressure was observed were qualified for long term oxygen therapy (LTOT). In 32 patients which were qualified for LTOT, after a two week period of 18 hour per day oxygen therapy a decrease of systolic pulmonary arterial pressure from 336.1 mm Hg to 30.9 mm Hg and a decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure from 25.9 to 23.2 mm Hg was observed.