[Oxygen therapy by means of an oxygen concentrator (author's transl)]

Oxygen for therapy of chronically hypoxemic patients can be supplied by an oxygen concentrator (De Vilbiss, DeVO2). By these means longterm oxygen therapy can be carried out on a round-the-clock-basis without risk of hypercapnia and without the need of handling the refill of oxygen containers. 9 patients in severe respiratory failure were treated with 2 to 4 l/min from the concentrator through 4 hour 4 days. Serial bloodgas analyses showed marked improvement of hypoxemia in all patients and prevention of exercise-induced failure in one patient. The oxygen concentrator therefore is suitable for the home treatment of patients with severe hypoxemia.