Wilderness & environmental medicine
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialGinkgo biloba decreases acute mountain sickness in people ascending to high altitude at Ollagüe (3696 m) in northern Chile.
To determine the prophylactic effect of Ginkgo biloba (doses 80 mg/12 h, 24 h before high-altitude ascension and with continued treatment) in preventing acute mountain sickness (AMS) at 3696 m in participants without high-altitude experience. ⋯ This study provides evidence supporting the use of G biloba in the prevention of AMS, demonstrating that 24 hours of pretreatment with G biloba and subsequent maintenance during exposure to high altitude are sufficient to reduce the incidence of AMS in participants with no previous high-altitude experience.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Tympanic thermometry is unsuitable as a screening tool for hypothermia after open water swimming.
Mass participation in competitive open water swimming is becoming increasingly popular. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infrared emission detection (IRED) tympanic temperature measurement taken in participants approximately 1 minute following a long-distance open water swimming event is a suitable screening tool for hypothermia. ⋯ Infrared emission detection tympanic thermometry is unsuitable as a screening tool for hypothermia following a prolonged open water swim because it substantially overestimates the incidence and severity of hypothermia in participants.
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To describe the general characteristics and epidemiology of search and rescue (SAR) in Yosemite National Park (YNP) and identify possible areas for intervention directed at reduction in use of these services. ⋯ Day-hikers in and around Yosemite Valley use a large portion of SAR services, with lower extremity injuries and dehydration/hypovolemia/hunger the most common reasons. It seems reasonable to direct future intervention to prevention of these commonly identified problems in this particular population of Park visitors.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Ventilatory responses to hypoxia and high altitude during sleep in Aconcagua climbers.
We examined the changes in ventilation during sleep at high altitude using the LifeShirt monitoring system on 2 climbers who were attempting to summit Mount Aconcagua (6956 m). ⋯ Interestingly, the changes in ventilatory response during simulated altitude and at comparable altitude on Aconcagua during the summit attempt were similar, suggesting reductions in FiO(2), rather than in pressure, alter this response.
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Wilderness Environ Med · Jan 2007
Randomized Controlled TrialPerformance characteristics of the second-generation remote emergency medical oxygen closed-circuit rebreather.
Closed-circuit oxygen rebreathers may provide high concentrations of oxygen at extremely low flow rates appropriate for field use with limited oxygen supplies. The performance of the preproduction, second-generation remote emergency medical oxygen (REMO(2)) system developed for Divers Alert Network was evaluated. ⋯ The second-generation REMO(2) was well tolerated by healthy subjects during 8-hour laboratory evaluation trials. The device provided high mean inspired oxygen fractions at low mean oxygen flow rates, relatively modest mean maximal inspired and expired pressures, and excellent scrubber canister duration. Further evaluation of field performance with a patient population is warranted.