Operation Everest II: Spirometric and Radiographic Changes in Acclimatized Humans at Simulated High Altitudes
- 1 May 1993
- journal article
- Published by American Thoracic Society in American Review of Respiratory Disease
- Vol. 147 (5) , 1239-1244
- https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm/147.5.1239
Abstract
We report spirometry and radiographic data on eight normal male human subjects during prolonged graded altitude exposure to as high as 8,848 m above sea level in a hypobaric chamber. We found a significant and progressive drop in FVC by 14 ± 3% over 40 days, which resolved slowly during the first 48 h after descent. With altitude, midrange forced expiratory flow (FEF25–75) increased by 82 ± 3%, probably because of reduced air density. FEV1 however, did not change. Chest radiographs on subjects taken 2 h after descent to sea level showed a pattern of pulmonary artery enlargement and interstitial edema. These data suggest that increased pulmonary blood volume and edema may be causes of the restricted pulmonary function pattern.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- High-altitude pulmonary edema: findings at high-altitude chest radiography and physical examination.Radiology, 1989
- Operation Everest II: oxygen transport during exercise at extreme simulated altitudeJournal of Applied Physiology, 1988
- Operation Everest II: preservation of cardiac function at extreme altitudeJournal of Applied Physiology, 1987
- Operation Everest II: man at extreme altitudeJournal of Applied Physiology, 1987
- Effect of Exercise on Lung Lymph Flow in Unanesthetized Sheep with Increased Pulmonary Vascular Permeability1–3American Review of Respiratory Disease, 1986
- Effects of exercise on lung lymph flow in sheep and goats during normoxia and hypoxia.Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1984
- How does HeO2 increase maximum expiratory flow in human lungs?Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1980
- Mechanics of breathing in high altitude and sea level subjectsRespiration Physiology, 1973
- Acute Mountain SicknessNew England Journal of Medicine, 1969
- Haemodynamic studies in high altitude pulmonary oedema.Heart, 1969