title: Oxygen inhalation using an oxygen concentrator in a low-pressure environment outside of a hospital.
abstract: Supplementation with oxygen is fundamental in rescue and emergency medicine. However, transportation of oxygen cylinders or a rigid hyperbaric chamber requires large work forces. Also, oxygen in a cylinder may be completely consumed during a rescue action. The oxygen concentrators, which enrich the oxygen percentage of ambient air, may free rescuers from carrying heavy oxygen cylinders. In the present study, 2 types of oxygen concentrators were tested in a mountain hut located at an altitude of 3776 m. Oxygen concentration of the generated gas was 28.6% +/- 0.8% with the first machine, which was powered by an internal battery. Arterial oxygen saturation of the volunteers inhaling through the machine increased from the original 79% +/- 6% to 82% +/- 6%. When the machine was used with a semi-closed circuit, the value increased further to 90% +/- 3%. The second concentrator, which was powered by an external electric generator, outputted 90% +/- 2% oxygen. Arterial oxygen saturation of the volunteers increased to 95% +/- 1%. It is concluded that both types of oxygen concentrators were efficient at high altitude.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi 371-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakaue
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suto
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Sou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narahara
authors.forename: Tomonobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tobe
authors.forename: Chizu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aso
authors.forename: Toshie
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakinuma
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hardy-Yamada
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004349:Drug Packaging / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen