PNEUMOLYSIS A NEW COVID-19 LUNG PATHOLOGY CONCEPT BORN FROM HIGH ALTITUDE MEDICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

Medical practice in high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia provides us with a different focus on lung disease. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, severe lung compromise often evolves into lifethreatening hypoxemia. The mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Their understanding is crucial to improving the outcomes. Sea-level management of this pathology was baffling to the physicians. The «Silent hypoxemia» confused them greatly. High altitude physicians are used to arterial low oxygen partial pressures (PaO2) and low pulse-oximetry saturation (SpO2). Medical and physiological high altitude acute and chronic hypoxia experience with COVID-19 hypoxemia grants a new insight. Applying the Tolerance to Hypoxia formula = Hemoglobin/PaCO2 +3.01 to COVID-19 enlightens critical hypoxemia.