Field Ultrasound Evaluation of Central Volume Status and Acute Mountain Sickness.

Wilderness Environ Med

Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (Drs Pitman and Harris).

Published: September 2015

Objective: To investigate whether ultrasonography can be used for field volume status assessment and to determine whether a detectable difference in intravascular volume exists in individuals with acute mountain sickness (AMS) compared with those without.

Methods: Study was performed at the Himalayan Rescue Association Clinic in Manang, Nepal, located on the Annapurna trekking circuit at an altitude of 3519 m (11545 feet). A convenience sample was taken from individuals trekking over 5 to 8 days from 760 m (2490 feet) to 3519 m (11,545 feet), comparing asymptomatic trekkers vs those who experienced AMS. Subjects were evaluated for AMS based on the Lake Louise AMS Questionnaire (LLS ≥ 3 indicates AMS). After medical screening examination, both groups (control, n = 51; AMS, n = 18) underwent ultrasonography to obtain measurements of inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC CI) and left ventricular outflow tract velocity-time integral (LVOT VTI) before and after a passive leg raise (PLR) maneuver.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding change in heart rate before and after PLR, or IVC CI; however, there was a statistically significant greater increase in LVOT VTI after PLR maneuver in control group subjects compared with those with AMS (18.96% control vs 11.71% AMS; P < .01).

Conclusions: Ultrasonography is a useful tool in the assessment of intravascular volume at altitude. In this sample, we found ultrasonographic evidence that subjects with AMS have a higher intravascular volume than asymptomatic individuals. These data support the hypothesis that individuals with AMS have decreased altitude-related diuresis compared with asymptomatic individuals.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wem.2015.02.008DOI Listing

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