Scand J Trauma Resus
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Scand J Trauma Resus · Jul 2024
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of oxygen supplementation on cognitive performance among HEMS providers after acute exposure to altitude: the HEMS II randomized clinical trial.
Emergency medical services (EMS) providers transiently ascend to high altitude for primary missions and secondary transports in mountainous areas in helicopters that are unpressurised and do not have facilities for oxygen supplementation. The decrease in cerebral oxygen saturation can lead to impairment in attention and reaction time as well as in quality of care during acute exposure to altitude. ⋯ This randomized clinical trial found that oxygen supplementation improves cognitive performance among HEMS providers during acute exposure to 4000 m altitude. The use of oxygen supplementation may allow to maintain attention and timely reaction in HEMS providers. The impact of repeated altitude ascents on the same day, sleep-deprivation, and additional stressors should be investigated. Trial registration NCT05073406, ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration.