Document Detail


Secondary prevention of HAPE in a Mount Everest summiteer.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19775220     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Climbers who have suffered a previous episode of high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) are at significantly increased risk of developing it again on return to high altitude. In spite of the high mortality associated with HAPE, some climbers are willing to take this risk in order to summit the tallest mountains in the world. This is a case report of a climber who suffered an episode of HAPE partway up Mount Everest. He was determined to complete his summit attempt that same climbing season, which would involve a return to extreme altitude less than 3 weeks following recovery. Based on experimental evidence suggesting that sildenafil, salmeterol, and acetazolamide may have therapeutic value for both the prevention and treatment of HAPE, he used these medications for secondary prevention. He was able to successfully reach the summit of Mount Everest and return to base camp without any evidence of recurrence of pulmonary edema. This provides clinical evidence that medication can be used to increase the safety margin for HAPE-susceptible individuals traveling to extremely high altitudes.
Authors:
Ola Dunin-Bell; Suzanne Boyle
Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  High altitude medicine & biology     Volume:  10     ISSN:  1557-8682     ISO Abbreviation:  High Alt. Med. Biol.     Publication Date:  2009  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-09-24     Completed Date:  2009-12-22     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100901183     Medline TA:  High Alt Med Biol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  293-6     Citation Subset:  IM; S    
Affiliation:
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. oladuninbell@me.com
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acetazolamide / therapeutic use
Adult
Albuterol / analogs & derivatives,  therapeutic use
Altitude*
Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use
Diuretics / therapeutic use
Humans
Male
Mountaineering*
Piperazines / therapeutic use
Pulmonary Edema / prevention & control*
Purines / therapeutic use
Recurrence / prevention & control
Sulfones / therapeutic use
Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Bronchodilator Agents; 0/Diuretics; 0/Piperazines; 0/Purines; 0/Sulfones; 0/Vasodilator Agents; 139755-83-2/sildenafil; 18559-94-9/Albuterol; 59-66-5/Acetazolamide; 89365-50-4/salmeterol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Hyperoxygenated solution: effects on acute hypobaric hypoxia-induced oxidative damage in rabbits.
Next Document:  Expression of angiopoietin-like 4 and tenascin C but not cathepsin C mRNA predicts prognosis of oral...