Some recent projects in various stages of completion. Dave conducts research via Two Pines Expeditionary Research.
Detection of Cardiac Arrhythmia at Very High Altitude Using a Wearable ECG Sensor
Summary: Five subjects wore ECG sensors that monitored their hearts continuously for 28 days before, during and after an ascent of Denali (20,310ft/6190m) in Alaska.
Findings: One of five subjects had numerous dropped beats (pauses) while sleeping at the highest elevations.
Significance: Probably none. Very fit people with low resting and sleeping heart rates may have dropped beats frequently while sleeping. But at altitude these observations were likely related to sleep disordered breathing, this being a well described phenomenon. An important aspect of this study was the use of novel data collection devices.
Ultrasound for the Detection of Extravascular Lung Water in High Altitude Climbers on Mount Everest
Summary: Ultrasound lung exams were used to look for evidence of subacute pulmonary edema in climbers up to 7800 meters on Mt. Everest.
Findings: In this small cohort of healthy climbers on a conservative acclimatization schedule, no evidence of subacute pulmonary edema was found. This study was limited by its small sample size.
Testing in Dingboche, Nepal
Exercise Efficiency and Economy During Load Carrying at High Altitude
Summary: This in-progress study is examining the amount of work performed per unit of oxygen consumed during load carrying before and after acclimatization in lowlanders and high altitude natives.
Findings: In progress.