The Effect of Acute High Altitude Exposure on Rescuer Performance and Patient Care

Summary

Rescue services in mountainous regions are frequently called to missions at altitudes \>3000 m. Under the difficult conditions of acute exposure to altitude, the crews then have to undertake demanding medical and rescue measures. Previous studies in non-medical personnel, such as astronauts, aircraft pilots, and military helicopter pilots have found that the lack of oxygen associated with acute exposure to altitude may impair cognitive functions. No data exists on the effect this may have on the performance of medical staff in terms of patient examination, communication, decision-making, planning, and overall patient care. This study aims to close this knowledge gap. The investigators of this study aim to make rescue missions to high altitude safer for both the patients and the rescuers.

To assess the effect of high altitude on patient care, the investigators recruit highly trained medical specialists who will perform patient care in simulated scenarios both at high altitude and at low altitude. These scenarios will be recorded and the performance of the medical specialists judged by independent reviewers.

The medical specialists will also perform in simulated scenarios at high altitude two more times: once with supplementary oxygen, and once after spending a night at high altitude. the investigators do this to evaluate whether supplementary oxygen improves their performance, and whether symptoms of acute mountain sickness (which usually develop after spending the first night at high altitude) decreases their performance further.

Conditions

• High Altitude
• Hypobaric Hypoxia
• Risk Reduction

Interventions

OTHER

Acute high altitude exposure

Thirty minutes after arrival at the Research Station Jungfraujoch by train, a simulated scenario of patient care ("intervention 1", high altitude at 3450 masl) is performed.

OTHER

Acute high altitude exposure, with supplementary oxygen

4 hours after arrival at the Research Station Jungfraujoch by train, a simulated scenario of patient care ("intervention 2", high altitude at 3450 masl) is performed, while the participants receive 4 litres / minute of oxygen via nasal route.

OTHER

Subacute high altitude exposure, after having spent a night at high altitude

After having spent a night at the Research Station Jungfraujoch, a simulated scenario of patient care ("Intervention 3", high altitude at 3450 masl) is performed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Juergen Knapp, PD, MD · University Hospital of Bern (Inselspital), Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-02

Primary Completion

2025-02-09

Completion

2025-07-03

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations