Noninvasive assessment of cerebral oxygenation during high altitude trekking in the Nepal Himalayas (2850-5600 m).

AbstractMountain trekking is significantly increasing in popularity. Hypoxia seems to play a key role in the pathogenesis of acute mountain sickness (AMS). The purpose of this study was to investigate regional cerebral (rSO2) and peripheral (SaO2) oxygen saturation for the first time, during 22 days high altitude trekking (measurement points: 3450, 4450, 4750, 5050 and 2850 m) in the Khumbu region of Nepal with near infrared spectroscopy and pulse oximetry. We examined 17 healthy volunteers 19–65 years old (8 female, 9 male; mean age ± SD, 46.1 ± 13.1 years). RSO2 and SaO were significantly (p 4450 m), two subjects showed reversible symptoms of AMS. The present data indicates that acute reduction in rSO2 values might be a primary cause of AMS, however, further studies and...