OBJECTIVE:To assess and compare immediate effects of chest physiotherapy with positive expiratory pressure (PEP) versus oscillating PEP on transcutaneously measured blood-gas tensions in patients with cystic fibrosis. METHODS:Fifteen patients (mean age 12.5 y, range 6.9-21.5 y) participated. The treatments were randomized and performed on 2 separate occasions, 8 weeks apart. Spirometry was conducted before and after each treatment. We transcutaneously measured oxygen tension (P(tO2). RESULTS:There were no changes in spirometry values. During PEP, different trends in blood-gas tension were seen, and there were no consistent changes. During oscillating PEP, P(tO2) increased and P(tCO2) decreased. During oscillating PEP, P(tCO2) was lower and the intra-individual change in P(tCO2) was more pronounced than during PEP. The results obtained immediately after oscillating PEP showed a higher P(tO2) and a lower P(tCO2) than with PEP. CONCLUSION:PEP and oscillating PEP can both cause transitory effects on blood gases in patients with cystic fibrosis. However, oscillating PEP alters blood-gas tensions more than does PEP, and hyperventilation during oscillating PEP may reduce treatment time.