Jen-Chun Wang1, Shih-Hung Tsai1, Yu-Long Chen2, Chin-Wang Hsu3, Kuan-Cheng Lai1, Wen-I Liao1, Ling-Yuan Li1, Wei-Fong Kao4, Ju-Sing Fan5, Ying-Hsin Chen6. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Department of Emergency & Critical Care Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Department of Emergency Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: chen.yinghsin@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rescuers that undergo acute ascent without acclimatization can experience acute mountain sickness. Although performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a short period requires intensive effort at sea level, performing CPR at high altitude is even more exhausting and can endanger the rescuer. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to compare the quality of resuscitation in health professionals at high altitude (3100 m) and that at sea level. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants were asked to performed continuous chest compression CPR (CCC-CPR) for 5 minutes at sea level and at high altitude. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation recording technology was used to objectively quantify the quality of the chest compressions (CCs), including the depth and rate thereof. RESULTS: At high altitude, rescuers showed a statistically significant decrease in blood oxygen saturation and an increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and fatigue, as measured with the Borg score, after CCC-CPR compared with resting levels. The analysis of the time-dependent deterioration in the quality of CCC-CPR showed that the depth of CCs declined from the mean depth of the first 30 seconds after CCC-CPR to that at more than 120 seconds after CCC-CPR at both sea level and high altitude. The average number of effective CCs declined after CCC-CPR was performed for 1 minute at sea level and high altitude. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of CC rapidly declined at high altitude. At high altitude, the average number of effective CC decreases; and this decrease became significant after continuous CCs had been performed for 1 minute.
BACKGROUND: Rescuers that undergo acute ascent without acclimatization can experience acute mountain sickness. Although performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a short period requires intensive effort at sea level, performing CPR at high altitude is even more exhausting and can endanger the rescuer. Therefore, we conducted a pilot study to compare the quality of resuscitation in health professionals at high altitude (3100 m) and that at sea level. METHODS: Thirty-eight participants were asked to performed continuous chest compression CPR (CCC-CPR) for 5 minutes at sea level and at high altitude. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation recording technology was used to objectively quantify the quality of the chest compressions (CCs), including the depth and rate thereof. RESULTS: At high altitude, rescuers showed a statistically significant decrease in blood oxygen saturation and an increase in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and fatigue, as measured with the Borg score, after CCC-CPR compared with resting levels. The analysis of the time-dependent deterioration in the quality of CCC-CPR showed that the depth of CCs declined from the mean depth of the first 30 seconds after CCC-CPR to that at more than 120 seconds after CCC-CPR at both sea level and high altitude. The average number of effective CCs declined after CCC-CPR was performed for 1 minute at sea level and high altitude. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of CC rapidly declined at high altitude. At high altitude, the average number of effective CC decreases; and this decrease became significant after continuous CCs had been performed for 1 minute.
Authors: Ramón Fungueiriño-Suárez; Roberto Barcala-Furelos; Marta González-Fermoso; Santiago Martínez-Isasi; Felipe Fernández-Méndez; Violeta González-Salvado; Rubén Navarro-Patón; Antonio Rodríguez-Núñez Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2018-04-24 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Anna Vögele; Michiel Jan van Veelen; Tomas Dal Cappello; Marika Falla; Giada Nicoletto; Alexander Dejaco; Martin Palma; Katharina Hüfner; Hermann Brugger; Giacomo Strapazzon Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 5.501