title: Supplemental oxygen and sleep at altitude.
abstract: Windsor, Jeremy S., and George W. Rodway. Supplemental oxygen and sleep at altitude. High Alt. Med. Biol. 7:307-311, 2006.--The purpose of this study was to examine the effect supplemental oxygen has on the respiratory and cardiovascular system of a mountaineer during sleep at high altitude by using a novel ambulatory, multisensor, continuous monitoring device. Supplemental oxygen was administered to a healthy subject via a nasal demand system (0, 16.7, 33.3, or 50 mL/sec per pulse dose delivered over 1 sec) during the first three nights of sleep at 4900 and 5700 m. Increases in pulse dose resulted in a consistent rise in Sa(O(2)) and a fall in minute ventilation (p < 0.05). The 50-mL pulse dose resulted in the greatest changes, with an increase in Sa(O(2)) from 68.5% to 81% (p < 0.05) and a fall in minute ventilation from 13.1 to 10.9 L/min (p < 0.05) being noted. Changes in Sa(O(2)) and minute ventilation also coincided with a fall in apnea/hypopnea index (AHI). At 4900 m the AHI fell from 12.5-52.3 (breathing air) to 0-7.5 (50-mL oxygen pulse), whereas at 5700 m a decrease from 49.1-80.4 to 3.5-10.0 was observed. No changes in respiratory rate or heart rate were identified when different pulse doses were compared (p < 0.05). The multisensor monitoring device proved to be a highly effective system, demonstrating marked improvements in Sa(O(2)), tidal volume, and AHI in our participant when supplemental oxygen was administered via a nasal demand system.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Aviation, Space and Extreme Environment Medicine, University College London. jswindsor@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Windsor
authors.forename: George W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Rodway
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen