Mt Everest Base Camp Medical Clinic "Everest ER": epidemiology of medical events during the first 10 years of operation

Abstract

Objectives: As the highest peak on the planet, Mt Everest provides a truly austere environment in which to practice medicine. We examined records of all visits to the Everest Base Camp Medical Clinic (Everest ER) to characterize the medical problems that occur in these patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records from the first 10 years of operation (2003 to 2012) was performed.

Results: Medical reasons accounted for 85.3% (3045) of diagnoses, whereas 14.0% (500) were for trauma. The most common medical diagnoses were pulmonary causes such as high altitude cough and upper respiratory infection, comprising more than 38% of medical diagnoses. For traumatic diagnoses, 56% were for dermatologic causes, most commonly for frostbite and lacerations. Pulmonary and dermatologic diagnoses were also the most frequent causes for evacuation from Everest Base Camp, most commonly for high altitude pulmonary edema and frostbite, respectively.

Conclusions: Medical professionals treating patients at extreme altitude should have a broad scope of practice and be well prepared to deal with serious trauma from falls, cold exposure injuries, and altitude illness.

Keywords: Everest; clinic; illness; injury; mountaineering; trauma.