High-altitude pulmonary edema

A high altitude pulmonary edema, abbreviated HAPE (of English. High -altitude pulmonary edema ), is an accumulation of fluid ( edema) in the lungs, which can occur in mountaineering at high altitudes. Fluid leaking from the capillaries into the lung tissue (specifically, the alveoli ) and hinders breathing.

It can occur in conjunction with the cerebral edema and / or within the symptom complex of altitude sickness or even completely emerge on its own without forewarning.

Occurrence

The altitude pulmonary edema occurs in about 0.7 % of the climbers who are located at a height of 3000 meters or higher. The mortality rate is around 40%.

Symptoms

In the high altitude pulmonary edema is greatly reduced by fluid in the lung tissue of oxygen exchange. See: cardiac asthma. In this phase, sudden loss of energy is the main symptom. In addition, resting dyspnea, cyanosis, dry cough, frothy cough, vomiting, fever, and a 24 -hour amount of urine that is less than 500 ml, indicative of the high altitude pulmonary edema.

Countermeasures

If appropriate treatment measures are taken, most improvement occurs within a few hours.

By far the best treatment option is the immediate descent. With a supplemental oxygen breathing during descent mortality can be reduced. In addition, drugs such as nifedipine (calcium antagonist), dexamethasone, sildenafil or diuretics may be used, sometimes rapidly improve the health status, but for which there can be dangerous side effects. Also suitable - if available - special ventilation modes in question.

Various drugs can reduce the probability of occurrence of high altitude pulmonary edema.