A Study of High-Altitude-Associated conditions in soldiers less than 50 years of age admitted in the ICU of a tertiary care military hospital operating in a counter insurgency operation area

Background: Altitude related diseases due to low barometric pressure and extreme cold climates are presumed to be the morbidities for soldiers carrying out military operations at altitudes varying from 2500 to 5500 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Aim: The aim of the study was to ascertain high-al...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Umesh Kumar Dash, Abhijit A Karmarkar, Manish Singh Dangi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Medical Society
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.marinemedicalsociety.in/article.asp?issn=0975-3605;year=2017;volume=19;issue=2;spage=138;epage=141;aulast=Dash
Description
Summary:Background: Altitude related diseases due to low barometric pressure and extreme cold climates are presumed to be the morbidities for soldiers carrying out military operations at altitudes varying from 2500 to 5500 meters above Mean Sea Level (MSL). Aim: The aim of the study was to ascertain high-altitude-related diseases among soldiers <50 years of age admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care military hospital. Material and Methods: A study was carried out in a hospital providing tertiary care support to troops for a period of one year. Patients were diagnosed by clinical examination, laboratory rest and radiological imaging. Observations: A total of seventy three patients <50 years who suffer from diseases at high altitude were admitted in the ICU of the hospital during the study period. A total of thirty nine patients were admitted for acute coronary syndrome, twenty two patients were admitted for thrombosis-related disorders including deep venous thrombosis and cerebro-vascular accidents and twelve patients were admitted with acute high altitude related illness. Conclusion: The prevalent diseases among soldiers of less than 50 years of age in the ICU of the hospital may have been caused due to the adverse environmental condition at high altitude.
ISSN:0975-3605