Expert group syndrome at high altitude

Jean-Paul Richalet , Marie-Anne Magnan , Alice Gavet , Pierre Lafère

Sports Medicine and Health Science ›› 2022, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (3) : 215 -218.

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Sports Medicine and Health Science ›› 2022, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (3) :215 -218. DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2022.07.001
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Expert group syndrome at high altitude

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Abstract

During a training session for the university diploma of Mountain medicine delivered by University Sorbonne Paris Nord for medical doctors, one of the participants developed signs of maladaptation to high altitude at 3 600 m, the severity of which was incorrectly interpreted. Information was sparingly given by the patient (an anesthetist) to several of his colleagues and no one was in charge to collect clinical data, take a history, and provide appropriate treatment. The combination of the absence of designation of a supervising doctor and the difficulty of communicating with the patient led to a lack of coordinated management and to an evolution of the symptoms towards severe acute mountain sickness. Fortunately, the very rapid management of the patient and a rapid helicopter evacuation, as soon as the symptoms worsened towards the onset of a suspected high altitude cerebral and/or pulmonary edema, allowed rapid resolution without sequelae. Environmental, medical, psychological, and managerial factors led to this Expert Group Syndrome.

Keywords

Acute mountain sickness / High altitude cerebral edema / Psychology / Group management

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Jean-Paul Richalet, Marie-Anne Magnan, Alice Gavet, Pierre Lafère. Expert group syndrome at high altitude. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 2022, 4(3): 215-218 DOI:10.1016/j.smhs.2022.07.001

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Authors’ contribution
JPR, MAM, AG, and PL made the observations. JPR, MAM, AG, and PL participated in the writing of the article, its revision, and approval of its final version.
Ethical approval statement
This case study was conducted in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki.
Consent for publication
The patient gave his written informed consent for the publication of this case report.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

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