Two types of treatment were randomly allocated to 16 patients with chronic obstrucitve pulmonary disorders and global respiratory insufficiency (paO2 < 60 mmHg; paCO2 > 45 mmHg). One group inhaled oxygen at the rate of 2.0 l/min for an average of 7 +/- 4 hours per day while the other group had IPPR for one hour per day. Both groups had the treatment for one year; it also included the inhalation of beta-sympatheticomimetic agents and administration of digitalis, theophyllin compounds and diuretics. Before and after one year's treatment static and dynamic lung volumes were measured in both groups by whole body plethysmography; resistance, haematocrit, haemoglobin and the blood gases at increasing O2 flow rates were also determined. 12 patients had right heart catheterization before and after one year's therapy and pulmonary pressure was estimated at rest while the patient breathed either air or an 80% oxygen mixture. There was no difference between the two groups in respect of lung function or blood gases either before or after treatment. Patients who breathed O2 for many hours per day showed a significant fall in the haematocrit values and a fall by 20% in the mean pulmonary pressure, whereas in those who had IPPR mean pulmonary pressure rose by 8%. There was a correlation between the fall in pulmonary pressure and the number of hours of oxygen therapy per day.

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