Ambulatory physiological status monitoring during a mountaineering expedition.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate an ambulatory physiological monitoring system during a mountaineering expedition. We hypothesized that the Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire, combined with frequent measurement of oxygen saturation and core temperature, would accurately identify cases of environmental illness.

METHODS:

Twelve military mountaineers took a daily Environmental Symptoms Questionnaire, monitored fingertip oxygen saturations, and recorded core temperatures while climbing a 4,949-m peak. Illnesses identified by the system were compared with those identified by spontaneous reports.

RESULTS:

The system correctly identified one case of high-altitude pulmonary edema and two illnesses that were not reported to the physician (one case of acute mountain sickness and one of self-limited symptomatic desaturation). However, it did not identify two illnesses that were severe enough to preclude further climbing (one case of sinus headache and one of generalized fatigue).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our monitoring system may complement, but cannot replace, on-site medical personnel during mountaineering expeditions.

• Authors: L A Sonna, J E Kain, R W Hoyt, S R Muza, M N Sawka
• Journal: Military medicine (Mil Med) Vol. 165 Issue 11 Pg. 860-6 (Nov 2000) ISSN: 0026-4075 [Print] England
• PMID: 11143435 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Altitude Sickness (diagnosis)
• Body Temperature
• Canada
• Humans
• Military Personnel
• Monitoring, Physiologic
• Mountaineering (physiology)
• Oximetry
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• United States