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Acute mountain sickness, two cases and their treatment in the field

100%

Karinen H. M., Tikkanen H. O.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

2012

vol. 25

issue 3

304-309

Objective: The number of lowland dwellers traveling at high altitudes has greatly increased in recent decades. Business travelers flying to La Paz or Lhasa are at risk of altitude illnesses, similarly to miners and soldiers transported to high altitudes. Traveling to high altitude requires adaptation and if this process fails due to too rapid an ascent rate or susceptibility of the climber, acute mountain sickness (AMS) may result. Doctors and nurses in travel clinics, health centers and occupational health care clinics may face patients asking advice on how to plan their trips or manage AMS, or the health care personnel may take part in a travel to high altitude environment. Methods: Two patients, aged 29 and 47 years, who fulfilled the criteria for AMS were studied. The clinical findings and treatment in the field are described including the review of the current recommendations for prevention and treatment of AMS. Results: Both patients developed a severe AMS due to too rapid ascent and their denial of the symptoms. Conclusions: Prevention is the safest and the most efficient method in the care concerning AMS. Realizing the risk of mountain sickness, active inquiry about the symptoms and correctly timed reaction to them, in other words interrupting the ascent or descending, help to reduce and even to prevent the development of serious problems.

Respiratory parameters at varied altitudes in intermittent mining work

75%

Bacaloni A., Zamora Saà M. C., Sinibaldi F., Steffanina A., Insogna S.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

2017

vol. 31

issue 2

129-138

Objectives: Workers in the mining industry in altitude are subjected to several risk factors, e.g., airborne silica and low barometric pressure. The aim of this study has been to assess the risks for this work category, evaluating single risk factors as airborne silica, altitude and work shift, and relating them with cardiovascular and ventilatory parameters. Material and Methods: Healthy miners employed in a mining company, Chile, working at varied altitudes, and subjected to unusual work shifts, were evaluated. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were investigated. Exposure to airborne silica was evaluated and compared to currently binding exposure limits. Results: At varied altitudes and work shifts, alterations emerged in haemoglobin, ventilation and respiratory parameters, related to employment duration, due to compensatory mechanisms for hypoxia. Haemoglobin increased with altitude, saturation fell down under 90% in the highest mines. The multiple linear regression analysis showed a direct relationship, in the higher mine, between years of exposure to altitude and increased forced vital capacity percent (FVC%), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). An inverse relationship emerged between forced vital capacity (FVC) and years of exposure to airborne silica. In the workplace Mina Subterrànea (MT-3600), statistically significant inverse relationship emerged between the Tiffeneau index and body weight. Conclusions: The working conditions in the mining industry in altitude appeared to be potentially pathogenic; further investigations should be realized integrating risk assessment protocols even in consideration of their undeniable unconventionality. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(2):129–138

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2 International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

1 Bacaloni A.

1 Insogna S.

1 Karinen H. M.

1 Sinibaldi F.

1 Steffanina A.

1 Tikkanen H. O.

1 Zamora Saà M. C.

1 2017

1 2012

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Acute mountain sickness, two cases and their treatment in the field

Respiratory parameters at varied altitudes in intermittent mining work