Abstract
Methods: 16 cases of HAPO diagnosed among young healthy reinductees to high altitudes of eastern Himalayas were analysed. Basis of diagnosis were clinical and radilogical with acute respiratory failure responding to standard therapy.
Results: All reported cases occured among males who were low landers, aged between 22 years to 29 years. They were first time reinductees in to snow bound mountainous regions located between 12,500 feet to 16,000 feet above mean sea level where they had stayed for more than 3 months without exhibiting any features of high altitude illness prior to their descent to lower regions of less than 2000 feet height above mean sea level. The period of absence from high altitude regions during their sojourn in low altitude regions varied from 16 days to 58 days. Prior to reinduction all were found to be healthy and physically fit without any comorbid conditions. They were well trained defence personnel and had undergone acclimatization as per standard protocol during their initial induction as well as during the present reinduction. All of them denied physical exertion prior to onset of symptoms. Insomnia and headache followed by breathlessness and dry cough developing within 2 days to 5 days of stay with features of acute respiratory failure and non cadiogenic pulmonarty edema with normal cardiac functions were observed in all of them. All had SpO2 less than 65% with mean value of 62%. Bed rest, supplemental oxygen and placement inside a hyperbaric chamber followed by evacuation to lower regions for convalescence ensured complete recovery without residual pulmonary or cardiac dysfunction.
Conclusion: HAPO can occur among young acclimatized reinductees without preceding illness or exertion.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2018 52: Suppl. 62, PA4521.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2018