HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA

Course overview

HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA (HAPE) IS A SEVERE FORM OF HIGH-ALTITUDE ILLNESS THAT, IF LEFT UNTREATED, CAN LEAD TO MORTALITY IN 50 PERCENT OF AFFECTED INDIVIDUALS. IT OCCURS SECONDARY TO HYPOXIA, AND IS A FORM OF NONCARDIOGENIC PULMONARY EDEMA. IT IS CHARACTERIZED BY FATIGUE, DYSPNEA, AND A DRY COUGH WITH EXERTION. IF LEFT UNTREATED, IT CAN PROGRESS TO DYSPNEA AT REST, RALES, AND CYANOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO THE CARE OF AFFECTED PATIENTS.