Sobhanan Ananthu, Tyagi Rahul, Tiwari Jitendra K, Kanakambujan Nidhisha
Emergency Department, Army Institute of Cardiothoracic Sciences, Pune, IND.
Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Department, Army Institute of Cardiothoracic Sciences, Pune, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Sep 10;16(9):e69068. doi: 10.7759/cureus.69068. eCollection 2024 Sep.
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a medical emergency commonly observed in people ascending to altitudes above 9000 ft. The condition predominantly presents with bilateral clinical and radiological findings. In rare cases, where unilateral lung involvement is seen, a right lung predilection is usually noted. We present a case of HAPE with unilateral left lung involvement in a young man upon reintroduction to a high-altitude area. He presented with dyspnea at rest and was found to have severe hypoxemia and tachycardia. Clinical and radiological evidence showed unilateral left lung findings. After excluding other plausible causes, it was concluded to be a case of HAPE. Following treatment, his symptoms resolved, and he was discharged on the fifth day after admission. This case highlights the necessity of awareness related to the uncommon presentations of HAPE since this condition can be completely reversed with a good patient outcome if suspected and treated early.
高原肺水肿（HAPE）是一种常见于海拔超过9000英尺地区人群的医学急症。该病症主要表现为双侧临床和影像学特征。在罕见的单侧肺部受累病例中，通常可见右肺更易受累。我们报告一例年轻男性在再次进入高海拔地区后发生单侧左肺受累的高原肺水肿病例。他出现静息呼吸困难，且伴有严重低氧血症和心动过速。临床和影像学证据显示为单侧左肺病变。排除其他可能原因后，诊断为高原肺水肿病例。经过治疗，他的症状得到缓解，并在入院后第五天出院。该病例强调了认识高原肺水肿罕见表现的必要性，因为如果早期怀疑并进行治疗，这种病症可以完全逆转，患者预后良好。
