Critical pregnancy at altitude: A look at Latin America.

Critical pregnancy at high altitudes increases morbidity and mortality from 2500 m above sea level. In addition to altitude, there are other influential factors such as social inequalities, cultural, prehospital barriers, and lack the appropriate development of healthcare infrastructure. The most frequent causes of critical pregnancy leading to admission to Intensive Care Units are pregnancy hypertensive disorders (native residents seem to be more protected), hemorrhages and infection/sepsis.

Oxygen therapy limiting peripheral oxygen saturation to 89-93% is associated with a better survival prognosis for critically ill COVID-19 patients at high altitudes.

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure automatically receive oxygen therapy to improve inspiratory oxygen fraction (FiO). Supplemental oxygen is the most prescribed drug for critically ill patients regardless of altitude of residence. In high altitude dwellers (i.

Hospital Mortality and Effect of Adjusting PaO/FiO According to Altitude Above the Sea Level in Acclimatized Patients Undergoing Invasive Mechanical Ventilation. A Multicenter Study.

Objective: (i) Analyze the effect of altitude above the sea level on the mortality rate in patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. (ii) Validate the traditional equation for adjusting PaO/FiO according to the altitude.

Design: A prospective, observational, multicenter and international study conducted during August 2016.