Summary of recommendations for interstitial lung disease and pleural disorders
| Interstitial lung disease |
| Assess need for supplemental oxygen and administer during stay at high altitude if predicted Pa,O2 <50–55 mmHg |
| Screen patients for pre-existing pulmonary hypertension and, if present, administer supplemental oxygen and prophylax with nifedipine SR 20 mg b.i.d. |
| Pleural disorders |
| After pneumothorax or thoracic surgery, wait 2 weeks after radiographic resolution of intrapleural air collections before undertaking high-altitude travel |
| With persistent pneumothorax or bronchopleural fistula, travel to altitude with chest tube or Heimlich valve in place |
| Consider screening patients at high risk for secondary spontaneous pneumothorax for the presence of occult pneumothorax with CT scan prior to high-altitude travel |
Pa,O2: arterial oxygen tension; CT: computed tomography. 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa.