Exercise training is a key component of pulmonary rehabilitation. It has shown signifcant improvements in both exercise tolerance and quality of life in patients with COPD. The intensity of exercise training is of great importance to yield a true physiologic effect. However, in patients with severe COPD, exertional dyspnea and leg fatigue make it impossible for the patient to maintain intensity of training for enough time to achieve a physiologic training effect. NIV has been reported to be used as support for exercise to improve exercise tolerance and respiratory performances in patients with mild-to-severe COPD with inconsistent results. Evidence from previous studies have suggested that NIV with a single-limb circuit with Whisper Swivel II expiratory valve or Plateau exhalation valve assisted during exercise in patients with COPD caused CO2 rebreathing. CO2 rebreathing may have a negative impact on efficacy. Previous studies have proved that exercise tolerance was improved ventilated by NIV with a dual-limb circuit. In theory, NIV with a dual-limb circuit consists of one inhalation limb that introduces air into the patient's airways and one exhalation limb that leads exhaled gas outside of the airways, there is no risk of rebreathing. However, there was no report on whether there's no risk of rebreathing in COPD patients ventilated during exercise by a dual-limb circuit. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine whether there was no CO2 rebreathing occurred assisted with NIV with dual-limb circuit in patients with stable severe COPD after exercise with exertional dyspnea.
