Long term oxygen therapy.

In summary, we find that long term oxygen therapy is practical, that it can lower both pulmonary arterial pressure and the red cell mass, and also reduce the time spent in hospital. It is yet to be ascertained by a controlled trial if these improvements are significant when compared with those obtained in similar patients treated without oxygen. The Union Carbide Walker system is a convenient and relatively cheap way of giving oxygen over this long period. Although oxygen on exercise improves these patients' exercise tolerants, it would appear that weight of the Oxygen Walker might prevent much advantage to be taken of this in these severely disabled patients if the patient actually carries the Walker himself, but this portable system greatly increases the patient's social mobility.