Breathlessness during different forms of ventilatory stimulation: a study of mechanisms in normal subjects and respiratory patients

1985 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 663-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Adams ◽  
R. Lane ◽  
S. A. Shea ◽  
A. Cockcroft ◽  
A. Guz

1. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the perception of breathlessness induced by hypoxia and hypercapnia in both naive normal subjects and patients with respiratory mechanical problems. 2. In normal subjects separately receiving both oscillating hypercapnic and hypoxic ventilatory stimulation, equivalent peak stimulus intensities in end-tidal gas were associated with a ‘damped’ ventilatory response when the frequency of stimulation was increased. A concomitant fall in peak breathlessness levels on a visual analogue scale was recorded in each case. 3. In normal subjects and patients, the voluntary copying of a ventilatory pattern recorded during oscillating hypercapnic stimulation was associated with a marked diminution or complete absence of breathlessness despite equivalent levels of peak ventilations achieved. 4. Voluntary copying of hypercapnic stimulated ventilation was not associated with any demonstrable change in the distribution of muscle movements between the chest wall and abdomen. 5. These results suggest that the intensity of breathlessness depends on the level of effective reflex stimulation of the respiratory-related neurones in the medulla. They cannot be explained solely in terms of perception of afferent neural information arising from either chemoreceptors or respiratory mechanoreceptors.

1993 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Gleeson ◽  
L. W. Sweer

The ventilatory after-discharge mechanism (VAD) may stabilize ventilation (VE) after hyperventilation but has not been studied in detail in humans. Several studies conducted during wakefulness suggest that VAD is present, although none has been conducted during sleep, when disordered ventilation is most common. We conducted two experiments during wakefulness and non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep in 14 healthy young men to characterize the ventilatory response after termination of a 45- to 60-s 10–12% O2 hypoxic stimulus. Eight subjects had triplicate hypoxic trials terminated by 100% O2 during wakefulness and NREM sleep. Hypoxia caused a drop in arterial O2 saturation to 78.5 +/- 0.5%, an increase in VE of 4.4 +/- 0.6 l/min, and a decrease in end-tidal PCO2 of 4.4 +/- 0.4 Torr during wakefulness, with no significant differences during sleep. When the hypoxia was terminated with 100% O2, VE was variable within and between subjects during wakefulness. During sleep, all subjects developed hypopnea (VE < 67% baseline) with a mean decrease of 65.5 +/- 7.8% at the onset of hyperoxia (P < 0.05 compared with baseline VE). We hypothesized that this uniform decrease in VE might be due to the nonphysiological hyperoxia employed. We therefore studied six additional subjects, all during NREM sleep, with identical hypoxic stimulation of breathing terminated by 100% O2 or room air. We again found that termination of hypoxia with 100% O2 produced uniform hypoventilation. However, when the identical stimulus was terminated with room air, no hypoventilation occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1983 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 1460-1466 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Weiler-Ravell ◽  
D. M. Cooper ◽  
B. J. Whipp ◽  
K. Wasserman

It has been suggested that the initial phase of the ventilatory response to exercise is governed by a mechanism which responds to the increase in pulmonary blood flow (Q)--cardiodynamic hyperpnea. Because the initial change in stroke volume and Q is less in the supine (S) than in the upright (U) position at the start of exercise, we hypothesized that the increase in ventilation would also be less in the first 20 s (phase I) of S exercise. Ten normal subjects performed cycle ergometry in the U and S positions. Inspired ventilation (VI), O2 uptake (VO2), CO2 output (VCO2), corrected for changes in lung gas stores, and end-tidal O2 and CO2 tensions were measured breath by breath. Heart rate (HR) was determined beat by beat. The phase I ventilatory response was markedly different in the two positions. In the U position, VI increased abruptly by 81 +/- 8% (mean +/- SE) above base line. In the S position, the phase I response was significantly attenuated (P less than 0.001), the increase in VI being 50 +/- 6%. Similarly, the phase I VO2 and VO2/HR responses reflecting the initial increase in Q and stroke volume, were attenuated (P less than 0.001) in the S posture, compared with that for U; VO2 increased 49 +/- 5.3 and 113 +/- 14.7% in S and U, respectively, and VO2/HR increased 16 +/- 3.0 and 76 +/- 7.1% in the S and U, respectively. The increase in VI correlated well with the increase in VO2, (r = 0.80, P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1985 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Winning ◽  
R. D. Hamilton ◽  
S. A. Shea ◽  
C. Knott ◽  
A. Guz

1. The effect on ventilation of airway anaesthesia, produced by the inhalation of a 5% bupivacaine aerosol (aerodynamic mass median diameter = 4.77 μm), was studied in 12 normal subjects. 2. The dose and distribution of the aerosol were determined from lung scans after the addition to bupivacaine of 99mTc. Bupivacaine labelled in this way was deposited primarily in the central airways. The effectiveness and duration of airway anaesthesia were assessed by the absence of the cough reflex to the inhalation of three breaths of a 5% citric acid aerosol. Airway anaesthesia always lasted more than 20 min. 3. Resting ventilation was measured, by respiratory inductance plethysmography, before and after inhalation of saline and bupivacaine aerosols. The ventilatory response to maximal incremental exercise and, separately, to CO2 inhalation was studied after the inhalation of saline and bupivacaine aerosols. Breathlessness was quantified by using a visual analogue scale (VAS) during a study and by questioning on its completion. 4. At rest, airway anaesthesia had no effect on mean tidal volume (VT), inspiratory time (Ti), expiratory time (Te) or end-tidal Pco2, although the variability of tidal volume was increased. On exercise, slower deeper breathing was produced and breathlessness was reduced. The ventilatory response to CO2 was increased. 5. The results suggest that stretch receptors in the airways modulate the pattern of breathing in normal man when ventilation is stimulated by exercise; their activation may also be involved in the genesis of the associated breathlessness. 6. A hypothesis in terms of a differential airway/alveolar receptor block, is proposed to explain the exaggerated ventilatory response to CO2.


2005 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nausherwan K. Burki ◽  
Wheeler J. Dale ◽  
Lu-Yuan Lee

Intravenous adenosine for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardia is reported to cause bronchospasm and dyspnea and to increase ventilation in humans, but these effects have not been systematically studied. We therefore compared the effects of 10 mg of intravenous adenosine with placebo in 21 normal subjects under normoxic conditions and evaluated the temporal sequence of the effects of adenosine on ventilation, dyspnea, and heart rate. The study was repeated in 11 of these subjects during hyperoxia. In all subjects, adenosine resulted in the development of dyspnea, assessed by handgrip dynamometry, without any significant change ( P > 0.1) in lung resistance as measured by the interrupter technique. There were significant increases ( P < 0.05) in ventilation and heart rate in response to adenosine. The dyspneic response occurred slightly before the ventilatory or heart rate responses in every subject, but the timing of the dyspneic, ventilatory, and heart rate responses was not significantly different when the group data were analyzed (18.9 ± 5.8, 20.3 ± 5.5, and 19.7 ± 4.5 s, respectively). During hyperoxia, adenosine resulted in similar effects, with no significant differences in the magnitude of the ventilatory response; however, compared with the normoxic state, the intensity of the dyspneic response was significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced, whereas the heart rate response increased significantly ( P < 0.05). These data indicate that intravenous adenosine-induced dyspnea is not associated with bronchospasm in normal subjects. The time latency of the response indicates that the dyspnea is probably not a consequence of peripheral chemoreceptor or brain stem respiratory center stimulation, suggesting that it is most likely secondary to stimulation of receptors in the lungs, most likely vagal C fibers.


1972 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. W. Iff ◽  
D. C. Flenley

1. We have determined the ventilatory response to CO2 inhaled in 30% oxygen (balance nitrogen) in eight normal subjects (1) before and during 4 days of 80 mg of oral frusemide daily and (2) within 55–75 min of 80 mg of frusemide orally. 2. Over 4 days the drug decreased serum potassium concentrations, but increased end tidal (and arterial) Pco2 and serum bicarbonate, thus inducing a mild metabolic alkalosis with an appropriate but small shift in CO2 response to the right without a significant change in the slope of the response. The CO2 response was unaltered by oral frusemide 55–75 min earlier. 3. This slight rise in Pco2 during 4 days of frusemide therapy contrasts with the absence of rise in Pco2 after treatment with thiazide diuretics, as reported by others. 4. We discuss possible implications of these results for the selection of an appropriate diuretic in patients with CO2 retention at various phases of their illness.


1974 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Leitch ◽  
L. Clancy ◽  
D. C. Flenley

1. We have determined the ventilatory response to CO2 at two levels of end-tidal O2 tension in eight normal subjects before and after (1) 4 days of 0.242 mmol (80 mg) oral frusemide daily and (2) 4 days of 0.024 mmol (10 mg) bendrofluazide daily. 2. Frusemide produced no significant alkalosis, change in end-tidal CO2 tension or alteration in the CO2 response line. However, we did demonstrate a linear relationship between the change in plasma total CO2 content and the change in intercept of the CO2 response line in hyperoxia after frusemide. 3. Bendrofluazide produced a metabolic alkalosis with no significant change in end-tidal CO2 tension. The CO2 response line after the drug showed a decrease in slope in hyperoxia and a shift to the right of the intercept in hypoxia. There was no relationship between change in plasma total CO2 content and change in the intercept of the CO2 response line in hyperoxia. 4. If these results obtained on normal subjects are applicable to patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema, frusemide might be the diuretic of choice for use with controlled oxygen therapy in the management of acute exacerbations of this disease when it is complicated by ventilatory failure.


1977 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 971-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Riley ◽  
B. A. Legawiec ◽  
T. V. Santiago ◽  
N. H. Edelman

Hypercapnic and hypoxic ventilatory responses were serially measured in nine normal subjects given 3.9 g aspirin (ASA) per day for 9 days. Minute ventilation (VE), end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (PETCO2), venous bicarbonate concentration [HCO3-], oxygen consumption (VO2), hypercapnic ventilatory response (deltaVE/deltaPCO2), and isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response (A) were determined before, 2 h after the first dose, and at 72-h intervals during the next 14 days. Serum salicylate levels averaged 18.6 +/- 2.0 mg/dl. VE increased (P less than 0.05, PETCO2 decreased (P less than 0.05), and [HCO3-] did not change significantly during drug ingestion. deltaVE/deltaPCO2 increased gradually to a value 37% greater than control by day 3 and remained constant (P less 0.01). A increased by 251% and VO2 by 18% within 2 h and remained constant for the remainder of the ASA period (P less than 0.01). All values returned to base line within 24 h following cessation of ASA. We conclude that during continuous ASA ingestion there is a gradual increase of hypercapnic ventilatory response. This may reflect slow entrance of ASA into the central nervous system. In contrast, there is a rapid rise in hypoxic ventilatory response which may be mechanically linked to changes in metabolic rate.


1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1683-1690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinrich F. Becker ◽  
Olli Polo ◽  
Stephen G. McNamara ◽  
Michael Berthon-Jones ◽  
Colin E. Sullivan

Becker, Heinrich F., Olli Polo, Stephen G. McNamara, Michael Berthon-Jones, and Colin E. Sullivan. Effect of different levels of hyperoxia on breathing in healthy subjects. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1683–1690, 1996.—We have recently shown that breathing 50% O2 markedly stimulates ventilation in healthy subjects if end-tidal [Formula: see text]([Formula: see text]) is maintained. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible dose-dependent stimulation of ventilation by O2 and to examine possible mechanisms of hyperoxic hyperventilation. In eight normal subjects ventilation was measured while they were breathing 30 and 75% O2 for 30 min, with[Formula: see text] being held constant. Acute hypercapnic ventilatory responses were also tested in these subjects. The 75% O2 experiment was repeated without controlling[Formula: see text] in 14 subjects, and in 6 subjects arterial blood gases were taken at baseline and at the end of the hyperoxia period. Minute ventilation (V˙i) increased by 21 and 115% with 30 and 75% isocapnic hyperoxia, respectively. The 75% O2 without any control on[Formula: see text] led to a 16% increase inV˙i, but[Formula: see text] decreased by 3.6 Torr (9%). There was a linear correlation ( r = 0.83) between the hypercapnic and the hyperoxic ventilatory response. In conclusion, isocapnic hyperoxia stimulates ventilation in a dose-dependent way, withV˙i more than doubling after 30 min of 75% O2. If isocapnia is not maintained, hyperventilation is attenuated by a decrease in arterial[Formula: see text]. There is a correlation between hyperoxic and hypercapnic ventilatory responses. On the basis of data from the literature, we concluded that the Haldane effect seems to be the major cause of hyperventilation during both isocapnic and poikilocapnic hyperoxia.


1959 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 721-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Eldridge ◽  
John M. Davis

The end-tidal pCo2, mechanical work of breathing, and ventilation were determined in normal subjects breathing air, 2.2, 4.2 and 5.8 per cent Co2, with no added resistance and with three grades of added airway resistance. With increasing resistance, pCo2 and work rose in parallel whereas ventilation remained constant or even decreased. In the presence of a constant Co2 stimulus, increasing airway resistance caused a progressive decrease in ventilatory response to Co2. The maximum breathing capacity was not in itself the limiting factor in the ventilatory response to Co2. It is concluded that mechanical abnormalities of the respiratory apparatus are an important factor in reducing the ventilatory response to Co2, and that work of breathing is a more satisfactory index of respiratory stimulation than ventilation. Since patients with obstructive emphysema have nonelastic resistance values in the same range as those used in this study, it is concluded that the low ventilatory response to Co2 in these patients can, in large part, be explained by the mechanical abnormalities. Submitted on April 28, 1959


1978 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 971-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
George D. Swanson ◽  
Brian J. Whipp ◽  
Robert D. Kaufman ◽  
Kamel A. Aqleh ◽  
Benjamin Winter ◽  
...  

Steplike end-tidal hypoxic drives (Petcoco2, = 53 Torr) lasting for 5 min were generated in a group of normal subjects and a group of carotid body-resected subjects when end-tidal CO2, was maintained constant under eucapnic (Petcoco2 = 39 Torr) and hypercapnic (Petcoco2 = 49 Torr) conditions. The hypoxic ventilatory response of the normal subjects was prompt and significant in eucapnia and was enhanced in the hypercapnic state, evidencing CO2-O2 interaction. In contrast, the carotid body-resected subjects did not respond to eucapnic hypoxia but did demonstrate a small but significant ventilatory response to hypoxia against the hypercapnic background. This suggests that the aortic bodies in man may contribute a small component of the hypoxic ventilatory drive under hypercapnic conditions, although the possibility of neuromalike ending regeneration cannot be excluded.


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