Managing chronic airflow obstruction: Part II.

The results of a well-controlled international study have shown no benefit in life expectancy, rate or duration of hospitalizations, lung function, or quality of life when intermittent positive pressure breathing is compared with an air compressor to deliver aerosol bronchodilators. Patients who are accepted on a home oxygen program should be vigorously managed with standard treatment, and only if hypoxemia persists after a month of such therapy should ambulatory oxygen be considered.