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High Altitude Cerebral Edema
Aka: High Altitude Cerebral Edema, HACE- See Also
- Pathophysiology
- End-stage High Altitude Sickness
- Course from mild Ataxia to death can occur within hours
- Symptoms
- Signs
- Ataxia
- Screening: Heal-toe walking in a straight line
- Altered Mental Status
- Ataxia
- Diagnosis
- Criteria 1
- Mental status changes OR Ataxia and
- Acute Mountain Sickness criteria
- Criteria 2
- Mental status changes AND Ataxia
- Without Acute Mountain Sickness criteria
- Criteria 1
- Management
- See High Altitude Sickness
- Gamow Bag
- Descend Immediately by at least 1000 meters (even 500 meters may be sufficient)
- Dexamethasone
- Initial: 4-8 mg IM/IV/PO
- Later: 4 mg q6h IM/IV/PO
- High flow Supplemental Oxygen
- Intubation and Hyperventilation if patient comatose
- References