Biomaterial Database

Initial Treatment of High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema: Comparison of Oxygen and Auto-PEEP. 2022

Markus Tannheimer, and Raimund Lechner

Department of Sport and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 14, 89075 Ulm, Germany.

BACKGROUND Improvement of oxygenation is the aim in the therapy of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). However, descent is often difficult and hyperbaric chambers, as well as bottled oxygen, are often not available. We compare Auto-PEEP (AP-Pat), a special kind of pursed lips breathing, against the application of bottled oxygen (O2-Pat) in two patients suffering from HAPE. METHODS We compare the effect of these two different therapies on oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) over time. RESULTS In both patients SpO2 increased significantly from 65-70% to 95%. Above 80% this increase was slower in AP-Pat compared with O2-Pat. Therapy started immediately in AP-Pat but was delayed in O2-Pat because of organizational and logistic reasons. CONCLUSIONS The well-established therapies of HAPE are always the option of choice, if available, and should be started as soon as possible. The advantage of Auto-PEEP is its all-time availability. It improves SpO2 nearly as well as 3 L/min oxygen and furthermore has a positive effect on oxygenation lasting for approximately 120 min after stopping. Auto-PEEP treatment does not appear inferior to oxygen treatment, at least in this cross-case comparison. Its immediate application after diagnosis probably plays an important role here.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010092	Oximetry	The determination of oxygen-hemoglobin saturation of blood either by withdrawing a sample and passing it through a classical photoelectric oximeter or by electrodes attached to some translucent part of the body like finger, earlobe, or skin fold. It includes non-invasive oxygen monitoring by pulse oximetry.	Pulse Oximetry,Oximetry, Pulse,Oximetries,Oximetries, Pulse,Pulse Oximetries
D010100	Oxygen	An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration.	Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D011654	Pulmonary Edema	Excessive accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung, an indication of a serious underlying disease or disorder. Pulmonary edema prevents efficient PULMONARY GAS EXCHANGE in the PULMONARY ALVEOLI, and can be life-threatening.	Wet Lung,Edema, Pulmonary,Edemas, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Edemas,Lung, Wet,Lungs, Wet,Wet Lungs
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000531	Altitude	A vertical distance measured from a known level on the surface of a planet or other celestial body.	Altitudes
D000532	Altitude Sickness	Multiple symptoms associated with reduced oxygen at high ALTITUDE.	Mountain Sickness,Altitude Hypoxia,Altitude Hypoxias,Hypoxia, Altitude,Sickness, Altitude,Sickness, Mountain