Isolated, confined, and extreme environments hold the opportunity to collect unique biomedical data. These often-remote places present specific medical challenges for deployed expeditioners. Here we report a case of acute severe high altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) and its management at a remote research station in Antarctica. At the beginning of the 2023 summer campaign at Concordia Station (3200 m AMSL), a technician presented with shortness of breath and compromised circulation three days after arrival on site. Immediate diagnostics and medical treatments with high-flow oxygen and the use of a mobile hyperbaric chamber after initial resuscitation were administered. Within a time window of 24 h, evacuation to sea level was organised via aircraft (flight duration 4 h, non-pressurised cabin) inside the mobile hyperbaric chamber. The patient was discharged from medical treatment 48 h later in Christchurch (NZ). We conclude that despite rigorous pre-deployment screening, even experienced expeditioners can develop critical medical conditions that require prompt reaction and rescue. Structured assessment tools can aid in their recognition and management.
Larcher et al. (Wed,) studied this question.