[Oxygen therapy of chronic lung disease. Testing of a chemical oxygen generator--Vitaria]

Twenty patients (11 females, nine males, mean age: 70.6 years) with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and hypoxaemia took part in a randomized single blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial, testing the efficacy of a new transportable oxygen delivery system (VITARIA). The system consists of a container and a sodium carbonate containing powder (75 mg). When the powder is stirred in water in the container pure oxygen with a max flow of 1 l/min is delivered over a period of approximately 15 minutes. All patients had been receiving home oxygen treatment of at least 0.5 l/min for at least one month. Their baseline oxygen levels in arterial blood were mean 7.66 kPa, with a mean oxygen response to 0.5 l/min of oxygen of 2.54 kPa. In the placebo group no oxygen responses were seen, while in the Vitaria group a small but insignificant rise in arterial PaO2 was seen. No side effects were seen. In conclusion we find the system handy and easy to use but the recommended dose of powder is insufficient.