Abstract

Lecerof, H. (1974).Thorax, 29, 673-677. Central haemodynamics during oxygen breathing in angina pectoris. The haemodynamic effects of breathing 100% oxygen have been studied by right heart catheterization at rest and during bicycle exercise in nine male patients with coronary heart disease. Oxygen breathing produced no significant haemodynamic benefit during angina pectoris induced by physical exercise, although at rest a reduction in heart rate and cardiac index was evident. The favourable effects of 100% oxygen breathing described in pacing-induced angina pectoris cannot therefore be transferred to exercise-induced angina probably because the myocardial blood flow during the latter condition is hampered by an increased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.