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Critical Care
Published in: Critical Care 1/2007

01-02-2007 | Review

High-altitude physiology and pathophysiology: implications and relevance for intensive care medicine

Authors: Michael Grocott, Hugh Montgomery, Andre Vercueil

Published in: Critical Care | Issue 1/2007

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Abstract

Cellular hypoxia is a fundamental mechanism of injury in the critically ill. The study of human responses to hypoxia occurring as a consequence of hypobaria defines the fields of high-altitude medicine and physiology. A new paradigm suggests that the physiological and pathophysiological responses to extreme environmental challenges (for example, hypobaric hypoxia, hyper-baria, microgravity, cold, heat) may be similar to responses seen in critical illness. The present review explores the idea that human responses to the hypoxia of high altitude may be used as a means of exploring elements of the pathophysiology of critical illness.
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Metadata
Title
High-altitude physiology and pathophysiology: implications and relevance for intensive care medicine
Authors
Michael Grocott
Hugh Montgomery
Andre Vercueil
Publication date
01-02-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Critical Care / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1364-8535
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5142

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