1. High altitude area - A risk factor for gastric perforation? : A case series
- Author
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Vikas Sinha, Deependra Kumar Sinha, Aditya Pawar, and Pawan Sharma
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Perforation (oil well) ,Population ,PPU, perforated peptic ulcer ,Mucosal atrophy ,Gastroenterology ,Article ,PUD, peptic ulcer disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Altitude ,Internal medicine ,High altitude ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Gastric antrum ,Risk factor ,education ,DLC, differential leucocyte count ,Duodenal Perforation ,Perforations ,education.field_of_study ,NSAIDs, non steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs ,business.industry ,digestive, oral, and skin physiology ,Effects of high altitude on humans ,digestive system diseases ,LMICs, low & middle income countries ,Intra-luminal pressure ,Hb, haemoglobin ,TLC, total leucocyte count ,HAA, high altitude area ,030211 gastroenterology & hepatology ,Surgery ,business - Abstract
Highlights • Original study. • Based on an interesting variation in location of perforated peptic ulcers observed in soldiers posted to high altitude areas. • Literature review and research suggestive of possibility of high altitude induced patho-physiological changes behind gastric perforations. • This study is probably first of it’s kind and may be pioneering for encouraging further studies to establish a definite role of high altitude in causing gastric perforations., Introduction This is an original case series on soldiers evacuated from HAA(High Altitude Area) over last one year(Sept 2017–Aug 2018), of which 100% cases were found to have gastric antrum perforation. This is a deviation from the usual trend that is being noted in Indian subcontinent where duodenal perforations are commonest. Discussion High altitude associated dyspepsia is a common phenomenon and some studies done in high altitude population have recorded high incidence of antral gastritis and mucosal atrophy on histo-pathological evaluation. This is also supported by high incidence of H. pylori infection. The presence of atrophic gastric mucosa associated with antral gastritis, when exposed to hypobaric hypoxemic conditions faced by soldiers posted to heights above 15,000 ft, may leads to increased intra-luminal pressure and ischemia which probably predisposes individuals for gastric antrum perforations. Conclusion This is a relatively untouched topic as we have not found studies onhigh altitude related gastric perforations and probably this is the first case series of its kind. The acknowledgement of this phenomenon may pave way for further studies for defining the role of high altitude in gastric perforations.
- Published
- 2018