Altitude Illness

Question 1

What is considered high altitude?

Answer 1

4000-12000 ft

Question 2

Tissue cannot acclimatize to past ____ feet?

Answer 2

22000

Question 3

What anatomical structure detects decrease in arterial oxygenation?

Answer 3

Chemoreceptors in carotid body

Question 4

The primary initial adaptation to keep alveolar PO2 up is?

Answer 4

Increased ventilation

Question 5

What is the brake on hyperventilation response? When does it occur?

Answer 5

Respiratory alkalosis, occurs after about 1.5 days at altitude

Question 6

What other mechanisms acclimatize the body to altitude?

Answer 6

Catecholamine release increases cardiac output and vasoconstriction
Increased rbc and hgb (EPO released in response to hypoxia)
Suppression of ADH and aldo release.

Question 7

Name the high altitude syndromes.

Answer 7

Acute hypoxia
Acute mountain sickness
High Altitude headache
High altitude cerebral edema
High altitude bronchitis
High altitude pulmonary edema

Question 8

Symptoms of acute mountain sickness

Answer 8

Headache, GI disturbance, dizziness, and sleep disturbance.

Question 9

Treatment for acute mountain sickness?

Answer 9

Descent, acetazolamide 125mg PO BID, oxygen

Question 10

High altitude cerebral edema has symptoms of acute mountain sickness plus?

Answer 10

Ataxia and/or altered mentation

Question 11

What questionnaire is used for acute mountain sickness?

Answer 11

Lake Louise acute mountain sickness questionnaire

Question 12

HACE should be treated with?

Answer 12

Immediate descent, Oxygen, acetazolamide, dexamethasone 4 mg, hyperbaric therapy

Question 13

Symptoms of high altitude pulmonary edema?

Answer 13

Decreased exercise tolerance, capillary leak

Question 14

Treatment for HAPE?

Answer 14

Minimize activity, O2, nifedipine 10mg PO bid, acetazolamide, hyperbaric o2 or immediate descent.