Women at Altitude: Menstrual-Cycle Phase, Menopause, and Exogenous Progesterone Are Not Associated with Acute Mountain Sickness.

Gardner, Laurel, Linda E. Keyes, Caleb Phillips, Elan Small, Tejaswi Adhikari, Nathan Barott, Ken Zafren, Rony Maharjan, and James Marvel. Women at altitude: Menstrual-cycle phase, menopause, and exogenous progesterone are not associated with acute mountain sickness. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2024. Background: Elevated progesterone levels in women may protect against acute mountain sickness (AMS). The impact of hormonal contraception (HC) on AMS is unknown. We examined the effect of natural and exogenous progesterone on the occurrence of AMS. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational convenience study of female trekkers in Lobuche (4,940 m) and Manang (3,519 m). We collected data on last menstrual period, use of exogenous hormones, and development of AMS. Results: There were 1,161 trekkers who met inclusion criteria, of whom 307 (26%) had AMS. There was no significant difference in occurrence of AMS between women in the follicular (28%) and the luteal (25%) phases of menstruation (p = 0.48). The proportion of premenopausal (25%) versus postmenopausal women (30%) with AMS did not differ (p = 0.33). The use of HC did not influence the occurrence of AMS (HC 23% vs. no HC 26%, p = 0.47), nor did hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) (HRT 11% vs. no HRT 31%, p = 0.13). Conclusion: We found no relationship between menstrual-cycle phase, menopausal status, or use of exogenous progesterone and the occurrence of AMS in trekkers and conclude that hormonal status is not a risk factor for AMS. Furthermore, women should not be excluded from future AMS studies based on hormonal status.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Avalanche and Nonavalanche Snow Burial Accidents: 2024 Update.

To provide guidance to the general public, clinicians, and avalanche professionals about best practices, the Wilderness Medical Society convened an expert panel to revise the evidence-based guidelines for the prevention, rescue, and resuscitation of avalanche and nonavalanche snow burial victims. The original panel authored the Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for Prevention and Management of Avalanche and Nonavalanche Snow Burial Accidents in 2017. A second panel was convened to update these guidelines and make recommendations based on quality of supporting evidence.

Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness: 2024 Update.

To provide guidance to clinicians about best practices, the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of acute mountain sickness, high altitude cerebral edema, and high altitude pulmonary edema. Recommendations are graded based on the quality of supporting evidence and the balance between the benefits and risks/burdens according to criteria put forth by the American College of Chest Physicians. The guidelines also provide suggested approaches for managing each form of acute altitude illness that incorporate these recommendations as well as recommendations on how to approach high altitude travel following COVID-19 infection. This is an updated version of the original WMS Consensus Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine in 2010 and the subsequently updated WMS Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness published in 2014 and 2019.

Frostbite treatment: a systematic review with meta-analyses.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to perform a systematic review of the outcomes of various frostbite treatments to determine which treatments are effective. We also planned to perform meta-analyses of the outcomes of individual treatments for which suitable data were available. MAIN BODY: We performed a systematic review and meta-analyses in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Trials, and EMBase to identify primary references from January 1, 1900, to June 18, 2022. After eliminating duplicates, we screened abstracts to identify eligible studies containing information on treatment and outcomes of Grade 2 to 4 frostbite. We performed meta-analyses of groups of articles that provided sufficient data. We registered our review in the prospective registry of systematic reviews PROSPERO (Nr. 293,693). We identified 4,835 potentially relevant studies. We excluded 4,610 studies after abstract screening. We evaluated the full text of the remaining 225 studies, excluding 154. Ultimately, we included 71 articles with 978 cases of frostbite originating from 1 randomized controlled trial, 20 cohort studies and 51 case reports. We found wide variations in classifications of treatments and outcomes. The two meta-analyses we performed both found that patients treated with thrombolytics within 24 h had better outcomes than patients treated with other modalities. The one randomized controlled trial found that the prostacyclin analog iloprost was beneficial in severe frostbite if administered within 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: Iloprost and thrombolysis may be beneficial for treating frostbite. The effectiveness of other commonly used treatments has not been validated. More prospective data from clinical trials or an international registry may help to inform optimal treatment.

Termination of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Mountain Rescue: A Scoping Review and ICAR MedCom 2023 Recommendations.

Lugnet, Viktor, Miles McDonough, Les Gordon, Mercedes Galindez, Nicolas Mena Reyes, Alison Sheets, Ken Zafren, and Peter Paal. Termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in mountain rescue: a scoping review and ICAR MedCom 2023 recommendations. High Alt Med Biol. 24:274-286, 2023. Background: In 2012, the International Commission for Mountain Emergency Medicine (ICAR MedCom) published recommendations for termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in mountain rescue. New developments have necessitated an update. This is the 2023 update for termination of CPR in mountain rescue. Methods: For this scoping review, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane libraries, updated the recommendations, and obtained consensus approval within the writing group and the ICAR MedCom. Results: We screened a total of 9,102 articles, of which 120 articles met the inclusion criteria. We developed 17 recommendations graded according to the strength of recommendation and level of evidence. Conclusions: Most of the recommendations from 2012 are still valid. We made minor changes regarding the safety of rescuers and responses to primary or traumatic cardiac arrest. The criteria for termination of CPR remain unchanged. The principal changes include updated recommendations for mechanical chest compression, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), extracorporeal life support (ECLS) for hypothermia, the effects of water temperature in drowning, and the use of burial times in avalanche rescue.

Physiological Effects of Sildenafil Versus Placebo at High Altitude: A Systematic Review.

Poudel, Sangeeta, Sandesh Gautam, Purushottam Adhikari, and Ken Zafren. Physiological effects of sildenafil versus placebo at high altitude: a systematic review. High Alt Med Biol. 00:000-000, 2023. Introduction: High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), a life-threatening condition that affects individuals ascending to high altitude, requires the development of pulmonary hypertension. Sildenafil can be used to prevent and treat HAPE, presumably by decreasing pulmonary artery pressure (PaP). We compared the physiological effects of sildenafil versus placebo at high altitude (above 2,500 m), including the effects on PaP. Methods: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL for randomized controlled studies of the physiological effects of sildenafil in hypoxia in healthy individuals. We conducted a systematic review of all studies meeting our criteria. Results: Of the 14 studies that met the inclusion criteria, 8 were hypobaric hypoxia studies. Six studies reported data at rest at altitudes from 3,650 to 5,245 m. Two were simulations reporting exercise data at equivalent altitudes of 2,750-5,000 m. Nine studies used normobaric hypoxia corresponding to altitudes between 2,500 and 6,400 m. One reported only rest data, two reported rest and exercise data, and the others reported only exercise data. Sildenafil significantly reduced PaP at rest and exercise in hypobaric or normobaric hypoxia. There were no significant differences between arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) with sildenafil in hypobaric or normobaric hypoxia at rest or exercise. There were no significant differences in heart rate or mean arterial pressure (MAP) at rest or exercise and cardiac output during exercise in hypobaric or normobaric hypoxia. Conclusions: Sildenafil significantly reduces PaP at rest and exercise in normobaric or hypobaric hypoxia. Sildenafil has no significant effects on SpO2, heart rate, cardiac output (during exercise), or MAP at rest or exercise in hypobaric or normobaric hypoxia.

History of Avalanches in the Eastern Spanish Pyrenees.

Avalanches have caused injuries and deaths in mountain areas throughout history. We have examined the historical effects of avalanches on communities in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees. Surviving written records began in the year 1444 when an avalanche destroyed the village of Gessa. Many other avalanches since then have destroyed houses and other buildings and have caused injuries and deaths. In the 20th and 21st centuries, many villages evolved from agrarian areas to destinations for winter sports. The first known deaths during winter recreation likely occurred in 1930. Because of avalanche mitigation efforts, including relocating settlements, physical barriers, avalanche control measures, efforts to increase avalanche awareness, and avalanche warnings, avalanches now seldom affect inhabited areas in the eastern Spanish Pyrenees. Avalanche injuries and fatalities are now mainly limited to backcountry skiers and others traveling out of bounds near avalanche-controlled ski resorts.

Isolated high altitude psychosis, delirium at high altitude, and high altitude cerebral edema: are these diagnoses valid?

Psychosis is a psychopathological syndrome that can be triggered or caused by exposure to high altitude (HA). Psychosis can occur alone as isolated HA psychosis or can be associated with other mental and often also somatic symptoms as a feature of delirium. Psychosis can also occur as a symptom of high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), a life-threatening condition. It is unclear how psychotic symptoms at HA should be classified into existing diagnostic categories of the most widely used classification systems of mental disorders, including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-11). We provide a diagnostic framework for classifying symptoms using the existing diagnostic categories: psychotic condition due to a general medical condition, brief psychotic disorder, delirium, and HACE. We also discuss the potential classification of isolated HA psychosis into those categories. A valid and reproducible classification of symptoms is essential for communication among professionals, ensuring that patients receive optimal treatment, planning further trips to HA for individuals who have experienced psychosis at HA, and advancing research in the field.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following Complete Avalanche Burial: A Case Report.

Libersa, Marie, Louis Marxer, Ken Zafren, Stephane Oggier, Lorenzo Pucci, and Mathieu Pasquier. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following complete avalanche burial: a case report. High Alt Med Biol. 24:149-151, 2023.-Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient left ventricular dyskinesia triggered by a stressful physical or emotional event. We report a case of mid-ventricular Takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy in an avalanche victim. The patient was a 41-year-old woman who was completely buried under 1.2 m of snow for 30 minutes. On arrival at the hospital, she was conscious and hypothermic (core temperature 33.7°C). Her ECG showed rapid atrial fibrillation (142 beats/min) that converted to sinus rhythm after rewarming and administration of crystalloids. Echocardiography showed akinesia of the left mid-ventricle with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 41%. At 48-hour follow-up, echocardiography showed an almost complete recovery. During her hospital stay the patient was diagnosed with an acute stress disorder with symptoms of dissociation. She was discharged home after 5 days. At 2-week follow-up echocardiography was normal. Psychological follow-up was normal at 7 months. The physical and psychological stress of the avalanche, as well as hypothermia, were all possible triggers of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Prevention and Treatment of Nonfreezing Cold Injuries and Warm Water Immersion Tissue Injuries: Supplement to Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite.

We convened an expert panel to develop evidence-based guidelines for the evaluation, treatment, and prevention of nonfreezing cold injuries (NFCIs; trench foot and immersion foot) and warm water immersion injuries (warm water immersion foot and tropical immersion foot) in prehospital and hospital settings. The panel graded the recommendations based on the quality of supporting evidence and the balance between benefits and risks/burdens according to the criteria published by the American College of Chest Physicians. Treatment is more difficult with NFCIs than with warm water immersion injuries. In contrast to warm water immersion injuries that usually resolve without sequelae, NFCIs may cause prolonged debilitating symptoms, including neuropathic pain and cold sensitivity.

Survival in a Collapsed Stable for 37 Days After Avalanche Burial in 1755.

In 1755 in Bergemoletto, Italy, an avalanche buried 4 people (2 women, a girl, and a boy) and several animals in a stable. After 37 d in a pitch-dark confined space, 3 of the 4 people were rescued alive. The 3 survivors had only goat milk, a few chestnuts, a few kg of raw kid meat, and meltwater for nutrition. We describe the longest-known survival in an avalanche burial and discuss the medical and psychological problems of the survivors. The boy died. When they were extricated, all 3 survivors were exhausted, cachectic, and unable to stand or walk. They were severely malnourished and were experiencing tingling, tremors, and weakness in the legs; constipation; changes in taste; and amenorrhea. One of the women had persistent eye problems and developed symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder. The survivors were given slow refeeding. It took from 1 to 6 wk before they could walk. We compare this case to other long-duration burials, especially mining accidents, and describe the rescue and patient care after long-duration burials. This case demonstrates that people can overcome extremely adverse conditions and survive.

Strengthening Altitude Knowledge: A Delphi Study to Define Minimum Knowledge of Altitude Illness for Laypersons Traveling to High Altitude.

Berendsen, Remco R., Peter Bärtsch, Buddha Basnyat, Marc Moritz Berger, Peter Hackett, Andrew M. Luks, Jean-Paul Richalet, Ken Zafren, Bengt Kayser, and the STAK Plenary Group. Strengthening altitude knowledge: a Delphi study to define minimum knowledge of altitude illness for laypersons traveling to high altitude. High Alt Med Biol. 23:330-337, 2022. Introduction: A lack of knowledge among laypersons about the hazards of high-altitude exposure contributes to morbidity and mortality from acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) among high-altitude travelers. There are guidelines regarding the recognition, prevention, and treatment of acute-altitude illness for experts, but essential knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes has not been defined. We sought expert consensus on the essential knowledge required for people planning to travel to high altitudes. Methods: The Delphi method was used. The panel consisted of two moderators, a core expert group and a plenary expert group. The moderators made a preliminary list of statements defining the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons traveling to high altitudes, based on the relevant literature. These preliminary statements were then reviewed, supplemented, and modified by a core expert group. A list of 33 statements was then presented to a plenary group of experts in successive rounds. Results: It took three rounds to reach a consensus. Of the 10 core experts invited, 7 completed all the rounds. Of the 76 plenary experts, 41 (54%) participated in Round 1, and of these 41 a total of 32 (78%) experts completed all three rounds. The final list contained 28 statements in 5 categories (altitude physiology, sleeping at altitude, AMS, HACE, and HAPE). This list represents an expert consensus on the desired minimum knowledge for laypersons planning high-altitude travel. Conclusion: Using the Delphi method, the STrengthening Altitude Knowledge initiative yielded a set of 28 statements representing essential learning objectives for laypersons who plan to travel to high altitudes. This list could be used to develop educational interventions.

Association of Pre-existing Mental Health Conditions with Acute Mountain Sickness at Everest Base Camp.

Hüfner, Katharina, Fabio Caramazza, Evelyn R. Pircher Nöckler, Agnieszka E. Stawinoga, Paolo Fusar-Poli, Sanjeeb S. Bhandari, Buddha Basnyat, Monika Brodmann Maeder, Giacomo Strapazzon, Iztok Tomazin, Ken Zafren, Hermann Brugger, and Barbara Sperner-Unterweger. Association of pre-existing mental health conditions with acute mountain sickness at Everest Base Camp. High Alt Med Biol. 23:338-344, 2022. Background: Mental health disorders are common, but limited data are available regarding the number of people with a past medical history of psychiatric diagnoses going to high altitude (HA). It is also unknown whether mental health conditions are associated with an increased risk of acute mountain sickness (AMS). Methods: We analyzed data from a previous study at Everest Base Camp. Participants self-reported their past medical history and history of substance use and had a brief history taken by a physician. AMS was assessed using the self-reported 2018 Lake Louise AMS Score. Results: Eighty-five participants (66 men and 19 women, age 38 ± 9 years) were included. When questioned by a physician, 28 participants reported prior diagnoses or symptoms compatible with depression (23%), anxiety disorder (6%), post-traumatic stress disorder (1%), and psychosis/psychotic experiences (9%). The prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses in the past medical history was much lower in the self-reported data (2/85) compared to data obtained via physician assessment (28/85). Increased risks of AMS were associated with a past medical history of anxiety disorder (odds ratio [OR] 22.7; confidence interval [95% CI] 2.3-220.6; p < 0.001), depression (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.2-11.2; p = 0.022), and recreational drug use ever (OR 7.3; 95% CI 1.5-35.5; p = 0.006). Conclusions: Many people who travel to HA have a past medical history of mental health conditions. These individuals have an increased risk of scoring positive for AMS on the Lake Louise Score compared with people without a history of mental health conditions.

Survival After Being Wedged in a Crevasse for 16 Hours in Alaska.

We present a case of an un-roped mountaineer who fell into a crevasse during descent from the summit of Denali (Mount McKinley). He was wedged about 20 m deep in the crevasse for a total of 16 h; this included 4.5 h waiting for a rescue team to arrive, and an 11.5 h extrication process. His condition deteriorated and he eventually lost consciousness. Even though the rescue team collectively felt there was little or no chance of survival, they continued until the victim was extricated from the crevasse. He was almost immediately placed in a hypothermia wrap with active warming, loaded on a rescue helicopter, and transported for 1 h 40 min to a hospital in Fairbanks, Alaska. During the flight, he was placed on supplemental oxygen. He was cold to the touch; respiration was detectable, but a pulse was not, and he was responsive to verbal stimuli. Initial bladder temperature in hospital was 26.1°C. He was released from hospital after 14 d and made a full recovery. This case highlights an important mix of preventative and resuscitative lessons regarding crevasse rescue in an isolated location. The lessons include the dangers of travelling un-roped on a crevassed glacier, the challenges of extrication from a confined space, the fact that respirations are often more easily detected than pulses, an extended transport time to medical facilities, and the necessity of trying unorthodox extrication methods. This case emphasized the need to continue extrication and treatment efforts for a cold patient even when survival with hypothermia seems impossible.

Isolated Ptosis Following a Vipera aspis Bite.

In Spain, snakebites are uncommon medical emergencies that cause barely 100 hospitalizations annually. Most of the venomous bites are by snakes of the Viperidae family. Venom from Vipera snakes is reported to have cytotoxic and hematotoxic effects, and neurological effects have also been described. Ptosis (cranial nerve III palsy) is the most common sign, although any cranial nerve can be affected. We describe isolated ptosis, which was very likely after a Vipera aspis bite in the East Catalonian Pyrenees. No antivenom was administered. The ptosis resolved spontaneously within 10 h. Although neurologic findings are usually mild, they indicate a moderate or severe envenomation. Treating snakebites can be challenging for clinicians, especially when there are uncommon clinical manifestations. A toxicologist at a poison center should be consulted to help guide management. Development of local protocols may provide clinical support.