Breathing patterns in unrestrained mountaineers climbing to 4559 m O. Senn, P. Erba, S. Anastasi, M. Maggiorini, K. E. Bloch (Zurich, Switzerland)
Source: Annual Congress 2002 - High altitude and hypoxia
Session: High altitude and hypoxia Session type: Thematic Poster Session Number: 692
Disease area: Respiratory critical careAbstract We investigated exercise adaptation of ventilation at high altitude in mountaineers climbing to 4559 m. Methods: Ten unacclimatized volunteers climbed from 3650 m to Capanna Margherita, Mt. Rosa (4559 m) at their convenience within 4 to 8 hours. Breathing patterns, heart rate and body position/movements were continuously monitored by a miniaturized device incorporating a calibrated inductance plethysmograph, a pulse oximeter, an ECG, and an accelerometer (LifeShirt™, VivoMetrics, CA, USA). Data were recorded on a palmtop computer. Results: In 8 of the 10 subjects, intermittent periodic breathing occurred at rest, in 6 subjects during hiking as well. Accuracy of tidal volumes measured by the inductance plethysmograph over the course of the ascent was ±]11% as verified by repeated fixed volume calibration manoeuvers. The table shows mean data (±]SE) collected over 5 to 10 min before, during, and after ascent. Conclusion : The novel device allows accurate, unobtrusive monitoring of ventilation without instrumentation of the airway during climbing at high altitude in unrestrained mountaineers. Our data suggest that ventilation during climbing remained constant but breathing became more shallow with progressive hypoxemia.
3650 m, rest
3650 m, hiking
4559 m, hiking
4559 m, rest
Tidal volume ml < 737 ±]54
1478 ±]109*
1155 ±]82*[sectional]
669 ±]74
Breath rate /min 30 ±]2
38 ±]2*
42 ±]2*
33 ±]3
Ventilation L/min 21 ±]3
55 ±]5*
47 ±]4*
22 ±]3
Heart rate /min 96 ±]5
137 ±]4*
140 ±]3*
108 ±]6
SpO2 % 85 ±]1
69 ±]4#
*P<0.05 vs rest at 3650 and rest at 4559m; [sectional]P<0.05 vs hiking at 3650m; #P<0.05 vs 3650m
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O. Senn, P. Erba, S. Anastasi, M. Maggiorini, K. E. Bloch (Zurich, Switzerland). Breathing patterns in unrestrained mountaineers climbing to 4559 m. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: Suppl. 38, 692
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