Comparison of carbon-dioxide-enriched, oxygen-enriched, and normal air in treatment of acute mountain sickness.
Twenty mountaineers with acute mountain sickness (AMS) at an altitude of 4559 m were randomly allocated to treatment with oxygen-enriched (33% oxygen), carbon-dioxide-enriched (3% carbon dioxide), or normal compressed air. Treatment with oxygen significantly improved the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), relieved symptoms of AMS, and reduced cerebral blood flow as estimated by transcranial doppler ultrasound examination of the median cerebral artery. The only significant effect of carbon dioxide was increased ventilation resulting in a slight rise in PaO2. Thus, in contrast to previous uncontrolled trials, this study does not support the usefulness of carbon dioxide treatment in AMS.
Bärtsch
P
P
Department of Medicine, Inselspital, Berne, Switzerland.
Baumgartner
R W
RW
Waber
U
U
Maggiorini
M
M
Oelz
O
O
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D015990:Placebo Effect; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen