Michiel J van Veelen, Rudolf Likar, Markus Tannheimer, Konrad E Bloch, Silvia Ulrich, Michael Philadelphy, Barbara Teuchner, Thomas Hochholzer, Jacqueline Pichler Hefti, Urs Hefti, Peter Paal, Martin Burtscher
{"title":"Emergency Care for High-Altitude Trekking and Climbing.","authors":"Michiel J van Veelen, Rudolf Likar, Markus Tannheimer, Konrad E Bloch, Silvia Ulrich, Michael Philadelphy, Barbara Teuchner, Thomas Hochholzer, Jacqueline Pichler Hefti, Urs Hefti, Peter Paal, Martin Burtscher","doi":"10.1089/ham.2024.0065","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Introduction:</i></b> High altitude regions are characterized by harsh conditions (environmental, rough terrain, natural hazards, and limited hygiene and health care), which all may contribute to the risk of accidents/emergencies when trekking or climbing. Exposure to hypoxia, cold, wind, and solar radiation are typical features of the high altitude environment. Emergencies in these remote areas place high demands on the diagnostic and treatment skills of doctors and first-aiders. The aim of this review is to give insights on providing the best possible care for victims of emergencies at high altitude. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Authors provide clinical recommendations based on their real-world experience, complemented by appropriate recent studies and internationally reputable guidelines. <b><i>Results and Discussion:</i></b> This review covers most of the emergencies/health issues that can occur when trekking or during high altitude climbing, that is, high altitude illnesses and hypothermia, freezing cold injuries, accidents, for example, with severe injuries due to falling, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, abdominal, musculoskeletal, eye, dental, and skin issues. We give a summary of current recommendations for emergency care and pain relief in case of these various incidents.</p>","PeriodicalId":12975,"journal":{"name":"High altitude medicine & biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"High altitude medicine & biology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1089/ham.2024.0065","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"BIOPHYSICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: High altitude regions are characterized by harsh conditions (environmental, rough terrain, natural hazards, and limited hygiene and health care), which all may contribute to the risk of accidents/emergencies when trekking or climbing. Exposure to hypoxia, cold, wind, and solar radiation are typical features of the high altitude environment. Emergencies in these remote areas place high demands on the diagnostic and treatment skills of doctors and first-aiders. The aim of this review is to give insights on providing the best possible care for victims of emergencies at high altitude. Methods: Authors provide clinical recommendations based on their real-world experience, complemented by appropriate recent studies and internationally reputable guidelines. Results and Discussion: This review covers most of the emergencies/health issues that can occur when trekking or during high altitude climbing, that is, high altitude illnesses and hypothermia, freezing cold injuries, accidents, for example, with severe injuries due to falling, cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, abdominal, musculoskeletal, eye, dental, and skin issues. We give a summary of current recommendations for emergency care and pain relief in case of these various incidents.
期刊介绍:
High Altitude Medicine & Biology is the only peer-reviewed journal covering the medical and biological issues that impact human life at high altitudes. The Journal delivers critical findings on the impact of high altitude on lung and heart disease, appetite and weight loss, pulmonary and cerebral edema, hypertension, dehydration, infertility, and other diseases. It covers the full spectrum of high altitude life sciences from pathology to human and animal ecology.