EM Cases · Altitude illness
HACE and HAPE at altitude — field-to-ED resus station
OSCE resus testing HACE/HAPE recognition, descent priority, dexamethasone and nifedipine, oxygen targets.
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Study tools
Target exams
ACEMFRCEMABEMFRCPCCCFPEMEBEEM
Prompt
Trekker evacuated from 4200 m with ataxia and a companion with respiratory distress.
Stem
All persons, presentations and observations in this station are fictional and invented for teaching assessment; they do not describe a real person.
References6ShowHide
- [1]Luks AM, Beidleman BA, Freer L, et al. Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness: 2024 update. Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2024.PMID 37833187
- [2]Hackett PH, Roach RC. High-altitude illness. New England Journal of Medicine, 2001.PMID 11450659
- [3]Fiore DC, Hall S, Shoja P Altitude illness: risk factors, prevention, presentation, and treatment. American family physician, 2010.PMID 21121556
- [4]Hackett PH, Roach RC High altitude cerebral edema. High altitude medicine & biology, 2004.PMID 15265335
- [5]Stream JO, Grissom CK Update on high-altitude pulmonary edema: pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment. Wilderness & environmental medicine, 2008.PMID 19099331
- [6]Ferrazzini G, Maggiorini M, Kriemler S, et al. Successful treatment of acute mountain sickness with dexamethasone. British medical journal (Clinical research ed.), 1987.PMID 3109663