Learning Objectives

• Discuss the respiratory implications of hyperbaric conditions (diving)
• Discuss the cause, effects and treatment of the major hyperbaric illness (decompression sickness, nitrogen narcosis and barotrauma)
• Discuss the respiratory implications of hypobaric conditions
• Discuss the cause, effects and treatment of the major hypobaric conditions

Hypobaric Conditions (High Altitude)

• what are the respiratory implications of hypobaric conditions?
• do $PaCO_2$ levels still control ventilation at high altitude?
• what adaptations may someone develop to acclimatise to high altitude?
• how does DLCO change at high altitude?
• why does breathing take on a Cheyne-Stokes pattern at high altitude?
• how does Khumbu cough develop?
• what are the complications of Khumbu cough?

Acute Mountain Sickness

• what is the cause of acute mountain sickness?
• what are the risk factors and protective factors?
• how does HAPE develop? how can it lead to death?
• what are the symptoms of HAPE?
• how is HAPE treated?