Evaluation of a Continuously Recording Ambulatory Pulse Oximeter During a Mountaineering Expedition
Abstract
We report a field trial of a novel, continuously recording ambulatory pulse oximeter. Seven military mountaineers climbed Mt. Logan, Canada, in June 1999. During the ascent, they carried an ambulatory pulse oximeter that was designed to perform frequent, round-the-clock measurements of altitude, oxygen saturation and pulse rate. None of the devices performed to expectations, due to a variety of problems with the hardware, software and human factors issues. However, we were able to obtain a recording from one individual that showed both episodic nocturnal desaturations and desaturation during exercise during a single 24-hour period. Additionally, an analysis of distributions of oxygen saturations in one climber revealed an increasing interquartile range and a decreasing median oxygen saturation between base camp (altitude 2760 m) and camp 1 (altitude 3460 m). We conclude that continuously recording ambulatory pulse oximetry is a theoretically interesting but unproven concept in mountain expedition research, and recommend that the devices be redesigned, rebuilt and retested.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA380169
Entities
People
- James R. Moulton
- Larry A. Sonnna
- Michael N. Sawka
- Reed W. Hoyt
- Stephen R. Muza
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine