High-altitude cerebral edema

A cerebral edema ( HACE abbreviated, of Engl. Altitude cerebral edema high ) is a dangerous serous fluid retention or accumulation in the brain that may be affected by the mountaineers. The skull can not expand and there is a dangerous rise in pressure in the brain due to its bony structure. Unless immediate treatment measures are taken, the cerebral edema usually ends fatally. In combination with a high altitude pulmonary edema ( HAPE ), the mortality rate is particularly high.

Occurrence

The altitude cerebral edema occurs in only about 0.3 % of the climbers who at an altitude of 3,000 meters or higher are, however, the mortality rate is about 40 %.

Symptoms

The main symptom of altitude cerebral edema are ataxias. This occurrence of movement disorders is an important indication of the transition from acute mountain sickness in an altitude cerebral edema, which can develop within a short time of a severe acute mountain sickness. Other symptoms include severe headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, hallucinations, photophobia, irrational behavior, neurological changes, low-grade fever, unresponsiveness, disturbances of consciousness, coma, and a 24 -hour urine output of less than 500 ml