Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Effect of oxygen therapy on exercise performance in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease:
Stéphanie Saxer1, Luigi-Riccardo Calendo2, Mona Lichtblau1
1Clinic of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland.
Background:
Patients with unrepaired cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) suffer from aggravated hypoxemia during exercise. We tested the hypothesis that supplemental oxygen improves exercise performance in these patients.
Methods:
In this randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, cross-over trial cyanotic CHD-patients underwent four cycle exercise tests to exhaustion, while breathing either oxygen-enriched (FiO2 0.50, oxygen) or ambient air (FiO2 0.21, air) using incremental (IET) or constant work-rate (CWRET) exercise test protocols (75% of maximal work rate achieved under FiO2 0.21). Pulmonary gas-exchange, electrocardiogram, arterial blood gases, oxygen saturation (SpO2), cerebral and quadriceps muscle tissue oxygenation (CTO and QMTO) by near-infrared spectroscopy were measured.
Results:
We included seven patients with cyanotic CHD (4 Eisenmenger syndrome, 3 unrepaired cyanotic defects, 4 women) median (quartiles) age 36 (32;50) years, BMI 23 (20;26) kg/m2 and SpO2 at rest 87 (83;89) %. When comparing supplemental oxygen with air during exercise, maximal work-rate in IET increased from 76 (58;114) Watts to 83 (67;136) Watts, median difference 9 (0;22) W (p = 0.046) and CWRET-time increased from 412 s (325;490) to 468 s (415;553), median increase 56 (39;126) s (p = 0.018). In both IET and CWRET SpO2 was significantly higher and ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide significantly lower at end-exercise with oxygen compared to air, whereas CTO and QMTO did not significantly differ.
Conclusions:
Patients with cyanotic CHD significantly improved their exercise performance, in terms of maximal work-rate and endurance time along with an improved arterial oxygenation and ventilatory efficiency with supplemental oxygen compared to air.
More Related Videos
04:20Integration of Brain Tissue Saturation Monitoring in Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Patients with Heart Failure
Published on: October 1, 2019
08:35Oxygenation-sensitive Cardiac MRI with Vasoactive Breathing Maneuvers for the Non-invasive Assessment of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction
Published on: August 17, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:16Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Oxygen Therapy for Respiratory Failure
Oxygen therapy is vital in increasing and maintaining blood oxygen levels in PAH patients. As a result, it aids in reducing fatigue,...
01:27Oxygen Transport in the Blood
01:23Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
01:20Respiration and Gaseous Exchange
Respiration involves the exchange of gases, especially oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), between the alveoli and body cells, a process facilitated by blood circulation. As a result, the cardiovascular system, which involves...
01:16Oxygen Delivering System II: Venturi Mask and Transtracheal Oxygen
Venturi Mask
The Venturi mask, named after the Venturi effect, is designed to deliver precise oxygen concentrations. It consists of a large tube with an oxygen inlet that narrows down, causing a pressure drop that pulls air in through adjustable side ports. The mask is a lightweight,...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...