Jahrbuch 2008

Page 85

C h r i s t o p h G u g e r, Wo l f g a n g D o m e j , G ü n t h e r S c h w a b e r g e r, G ü n t e r E d l i n g e r

Changes of ECG, oxygen saturation, Lake Louis Score and concentration per f o r m a n c e o n K i l i m a n j a r o Veränderung von EKG, Sauerstoffsättigung, Lake Louise Score und Konzentrationsfähigkeit am Kilimanjaro S U M M A RY ECG parameters such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), oxygen saturation (SaO2) and the Lake Louise Score (LLS) are common tools to describe the effects of high altitudes on the human body. Besides these parameters, we also tested mental processing performance at high altitudes. In this study, 8 subjects climbed Mt. Meru and Mt. Kilimanjaro within 9 days. The Mt. Meru (4,566 m) climb was undertaken shortly before the ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,896 m) to adapt to the altitude. The HR, the LLS, the SaO2 and d2 test score were determined at three points: (i) at 3,500 m on the way up Mt. Meru, (ii) at 4,633 m on the way to Uhuru Peak, and (iii) at sea level in Mombassa. The results show that heart rate and LLS reached their maxima, and the concentration performance its minimum at 3,500 m and not at 4,633m. Only the SaO2 values were slightly lower at 4,633 m than at 3,500 m. The study showed that the acclimatization hike up Mt. Meru and the acclimatization days before reaching 4,633 m had a positive effect on heart rate, LLS and concentration performance. The d2 test proved to be a very effective and easy tool that can be used by anyone to study the high altitude effect. Keywords: high altitude medicine, Lake Louise Score, d2 test, heartrate

Z U S A M M E N FA S S U N G EKG-Parameter wie die Herzfrequenz (HR) und Herzratenvariabilität (HRV), die Sauerstoffsättigung (SaO2) und der Lake Louise Score (LLS) werden häufig zur Beschreibung der Höhensymptomatik verwendet. Neben diesen Parametern

85


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.