Treatment of acute mountain sickness: hyperbaric versus oxygen therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the benefits of simulated descent in a hyperbaric chamber with those of supplementary oxygen for the treatment of acute mountain sickness.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
The Snake River Health Clinic in Keystone, Colorado, which has an altitude of 2,850 m (9,300 ft).


METHODS
Twenty-four patients who presented with acute mountain sickness.


METHODS
A simulated descent of 1,432 m (4,600 ft) was attained by placing the patients in a fabric hyperbaric chamber and pressurizing the chamber to 120 mm Hg (2.3 PSI) above ambient pressure. Patients were randomly assigned to either the hyperbaric treatment or treatment with 4 L of oxygen given by facemask; both treatments lasted for two hours.


RESULTS
Mean arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) increased 7% (84 +/- 2% to 91 +/- 1%) with pressurization and 14% (83 +/- 4% to 96 +/- 1%) with oxygen during treatment over pretreatment levels. Symptoms of acute mountain sickness decreased as rapidly with pressurization as with oxygen treatment, despite significantly higher SaO2 in the oxygen-treated group during treatment. Symptomatic improvement was retained in both groups at least one hour after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Simulated descent in a fabric hyperbaric chamber is as effective as oxygen therapy for the immediate relief of acute mountain sickness.
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder 80309-0424.
J F
JF
Kasic
M
M
Yaron
R A
RA
Nicholas
J A
JA
Lickteig
R
R
Roach
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000628:therapy*; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009051:Mountaineering; D011446:Prospective Studies