We investigated the effect of small inspiratory resistive loads on the breathing patterns of patients with COPD admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure. Patients were in stable clinical condition three days after weaning from the acute-phase ventilation. Healthy nonsmokers served as controls. Breathing patterns were recorded for 20-min periods during unloaded breathing (R0), then with small inspiratory resistive loads (R1 = 2.5 cmH2O L/s and R2 = 5.2 cmH2O L/s) applied in random order. Respiratory parameters were memorized in real time and blood gases measured continuously with a transcutaneous PO2/PCO2 monitor and compared periodically with arterial blood gases. Minute volume (VE) and respiratory rate decreased with no modification in blood gas values. In the COPD patients, R1 was too small to be perceived; when R2 was applied, no increase in TI was observed, and VT and VT/TI decreased. The VE could not be maintained despite a shortening of expiratory time. The COPD patients did not have significant increase of occlusion pressure (P0.1). Mean blood gas values did not change during the testing, but the coefficient of variation of tcPCO2 increased. During the critical period following weaning from artificial ventilation, COPD patients did not respond in the same manner as normal subjects to inspiratory resistive loads, but did not have modified gas exchange during the 20-min period.