Title:High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema Combined with Spontaneous
Pneumomediastinum: A Case Report
Volume: 20
Author(s): Wenzhe Li, Yajing Wang, Li Xu and Fang Yuan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiotherapy, General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Command, Wulumuqi, China
Keywords:
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), Spontaneous pneumomediastinum, High altitude, Cough, Computed tomography (CT), Medical treatment.
Abstract:
Background:
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a serious life-threatening disease that occurs after rapid ascent to high altitude; its main early-stage
presentations include fatigue, headache, low-grade fever, dyspnea, and cough. X-ray and computed tomography (CT) images show pulmonary
shadows and patches, which may be localized (initial right lung field predomination) or generalized to the bilateral lung base.
Case Presentation:
In this report, we present a case of a 25-year-old man diagnosed with HAPE combined with spontaneous pneumomediastinum. After a quick
descent and effective medical treatment, this patient made a full recovery. The case may provide helpful information for the prevention and
treatment of this disease since an increased number of people, especially young men, currently travel and work at high altitudes.
Conclusion:
After accurate clinical diagnosis with the help of CT or X-ray, immediate descent and appropriate oxygen supplementation are the most effective
treatments for HAPE at high altitude.
