Search

Background: A physiological benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is more probable if exercise is performed above the lactate threshold. This study was undertaken to investigate whether it was possible to extend the lactataemia of exercise using non-invasive inspiratory pressure support (IPS).Methods: Plasma lactate levels were measured in eight men with severe COPD who performed two treadmill walks at an identical constant work rate to a condition of severe dyspnoea; the second walk was supported by IPS.Results: Mean plasma lactate levels before the free and IPS assisted walks were 1.65 mmol/l and 1. 53 mmol/l, respectively (p = NS). Lactate levels increased during both walks to 2.96 mmol/l and 2.42 mmol/l, respectively (p = 0.01 for each) but the duration of the IPS assisted walk was significantly greater than the free walk (13.6 minutes versus 5.5 minutes, p = 0.01).Conclusions: Patients with severe COPD can sustain exercise induced lactataemia for longer if assisted with IPS. This technique may prove to be a useful adjunct in pulmonary rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximal expiratory mouth pressure is a well established test that is used to assess expiratory muscle strength. However, low values are difficult to interpret, as they may result from technical difficulties in performing the test, particularly in patients with facial muscle weakness or bulbar dysfunction. We hypothesized that measuring the gastric pressure during a cough, a natural maneuver recruiting the expiratory muscles, might prove to be a useful additional test in the assessment of expiratory muscle function. Mouth expiratory and cough gastric pressures were measured in 99 healthy volunteers to obtain normal values and in 293 patients referred for respiratory muscle assessment to compare the two measurements. Between-occasion within-subject coefficient of variation, assessed in 24 healthy volunteers, was 10.3% for mouth pressure and 6.9% for cough. Mean +/- SD cough gastric pressure for normal males was 214.4 +/- 42.2 and 165.1 +/- 34.8 cm H2O for females. In 171 patients deemed weak by a low mouth expiratory pressure, 42% had a normal cough gastric pressure. In 105 patients deemed weak by a low cough gastric pressure, 5.7% had a normal expiratory mouth pressure. Low maximal expiratory mouth pressures do not always indicate expiratory muscle weakness. Cough gastric pressure provides a useful complementary test for the assessment of expiratory muscle strength.

The effect of Cushing's syndrome on respiratory muscle strength is unknown. Therefore, we studied 10 consecutive patients with severe Cushing's syndrome. The respiratory muscles were assessed using maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (MIP, MEP), maximal sniff transdiaphragmatic pressures (max sniff Pdi), and maximal sniff esophageal pressures (max sniff Pes). Maximal quadricep strength was also assessed. The patients demonstrated an overall mean MIP 92 cm H(2)O, SD 19 (mean 105% of predicted; SD, 23%), mean MEP 134 cm H(2)O, SD 35 (mean 99% of predicted; SD, 25%), mean max sniff Pdi 107 cm H(2)O, SD 12 (mean 78% of predicted; SD, 10%) and mean max sniff Pes of 92 cm H(2)O, SD 11 (mean 92% of predicted; SD, 11%). Quadriceps muscle strength was reduced in all 10 patients: mean 26 kg, SD 9 (mean 49% of predicted strength, SD 21%). Respiratory muscle weakness was not found, despite the presence of severe quadriceps impairment. We conclude that major weakness of the respiratory muscles is not usual in Cushing's syndrome.

Abdominal muscles are the principal muscles of active expiration. To investigate the possibility of abdominal muscle low-frequency fatigue after maximal ventilation in humans, we stimulated the nerve roots supplying the abdominal muscles. We used a magnetic stimulator (Magstim 200) powering a 90-mm circular coil and studied six normal subjects. To assess the optimum level of stimulation and posture, we stimulated at each intervertebral level between T7 and L1 in the prone, supine, and seated positions. At T10, we used increasing power outputs to assess the pressure-power relationship. Care was taken to avoid muscle potentiation. Twitch gastric pressure (Pga) was recorded with a balloon-tipped catheter. Mean (+/-SD) baseline twitch Pga measured with the subjects in the prone position at T10 was 23.5 +/- 5.4 cmH2O. Within-occasion mean twitch Pga coefficient of variation was 4.6 +/- 1.1%. Twitch Pga was measured with the subjects in the prone position with stimulation over T10 before and after 2 min of maximal isocapnic ventilation (MIV). Twenty minutes after MIV, mean twitch Pga fell by 17 +/- 9.1% (P = 0.03) and remained low 90 min after MIV. We conclude that after maximal ventilation in humans there is a reduction of twitch Pga and, therefore, of low-frequency fatigue in abdominal muscles.