Objectives 

To compare data derived from a computer model of the pulmonary circulation with data from a case series of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To evaluate the specific factors contributing to CO₂ retention due to oxygen therapy in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

Design 

Data from a computer model of the pulmonary circulation were compared with a previous case series.

Patients 

Patient data were derived from previous case series.

Interventions 

Simulated application of oxygen therapy.

Measurements and Main Results 

The computer model of the pulmonary circulation generates data comparable with those data from a series of patients with COPD treated with supplemental oxygen and permits identification of the causes for hypercarbia. Therapy with supplemental oxygen alters hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and modulates the Haldane effect, resulting in changes in physiologic deadspace.

Conclusion 

Changes in physiologic deadspace are sufficient to account for the hypercarbia developed by patients with acute exacerbations of COPD when treated with supplemental oxygen.

(Crit Care Med 1996; 24:23-28)