Predicting hypoxia in cystic fibrosis patients during exposure to high altitudes

Abstract Background For patients with cystic fibrosis (CF)-related partial respiratory insufficiency and reduced arterial oxygen tension at ground level, the mild hypobaric environment on commercial jet aircraft poses the risk of severe hypoxemia. Thus, physicians should be able to estimate the extent of in-flight hypoxia. Objectives To derive tools for estimating the expected drop in arterial oxygen partial pressure (paO 2 ) and oxygen saturation (saO 2 ) in young adult CF patients with mild to moderate airway obstruction during exposure to the hypobaric conditions aboard commercial aircraft and to test the predictive power of a hypobaric chamber simulation. Methods Blood gases of 12 CF pa…