Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study
Abstract Aim We investigated whether a commercial bi‐level positive airway pressure (BPAP) device, would improve peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during recreational aviation up to 12,500 feet without supplemental oxygen. Ten adults with recreational flight experience (age:47 ± 14; female = 5) co...
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| Format: | Article |
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Physiological Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70210 |
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| author | Jenna L. Taylor Aidan K. Downs Crystal L. Danner J. Hunter Downs III Josh Donkor Jessica I. Johnston Douglas Rozendaal Peter L. Larsen Bruce D. Johnson Douglas T. Summerfield |
| author_facet | Jenna L. Taylor Aidan K. Downs Crystal L. Danner J. Hunter Downs III Josh Donkor Jessica I. Johnston Douglas Rozendaal Peter L. Larsen Bruce D. Johnson Douglas T. Summerfield |
| author_sort | Jenna L. Taylor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aim We investigated whether a commercial bi‐level positive airway pressure (BPAP) device, would improve peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during recreational aviation up to 12,500 feet without supplemental oxygen. Ten adults with recreational flight experience (age:47 ± 14; female = 5) completed a standardized flight profile in an unpressurised aircraft, involving randomized crossover design at 8,000 feet and 12,500 feet with BPAP or control. SpO2, middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and relative tidal volume (TV) index were measured continuously. Psychomotor vigilance test (3‐min) assessed reaction time halfway through taxi and altitude stages. Altitude significantly (p < 0.05) decreased mean SpO2, MCAv, and RR, and increased TV index and HR. There was no effect of altitude (p > 0.05) on reaction time. BPAP increased mean SpO2 at 8,000 feet [Control: 92 ± 1%; BPAP: 94 ± 2%; mean difference (MD) = 2 ± 2%; p = 0.002] and 12,500 feet [Control: 86 ± 4%; BPAP: 89 ± 4%; MD = 2 ± 3%; p = 0.013]. BPAP lowered MCAv at 8,000 feet [Control: 53 ± 10 cm/s; BPAP: 50 ± 9 cm/s; MD = ‐3 ± 2 cm/s; p = 0.001] and 12,500 feet [Control: 52 ± 10 cm/s; BPAP: 50 ± 8 cm/s; MD = ‐2 ± 3 cm/s; p = 0.041]. BPAP increased TV index at 8,000 feet (Control: 6.6 ± 1.3; BPAP:8.1 ± 1.8; MD = 1.9 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) but not 12,500 feet, without effect on RR or reaction time. This study provides preliminary results that BPAP may improve mean SpO2 for recreational aviators up to 12,500 feet without supplemental oxygen. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-938818c5cd374cbeafc76dc07396138e |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2051-817X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Physiological Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-938818c5cd374cbeafc76dc07396138e2025-08-20T03:10:39ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-02-01133n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70210Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot studyJenna L. Taylor0Aidan K. Downs1Crystal L. Danner2J. Hunter Downs III3Josh Donkor4Jessica I. Johnston5Douglas Rozendaal6Peter L. Larsen7Bruce D. Johnson8Douglas T. Summerfield9Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAHuman Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAMercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City Iowa USAHuman Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAHuman Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAHuman Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAPlaneLease LCC Mason City Iowa USAMercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City Iowa USAHuman Integrative and Environmental Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USAMercyOne North Iowa Medical Center Mason City Iowa USAAbstract Aim We investigated whether a commercial bi‐level positive airway pressure (BPAP) device, would improve peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) during recreational aviation up to 12,500 feet without supplemental oxygen. Ten adults with recreational flight experience (age:47 ± 14; female = 5) completed a standardized flight profile in an unpressurised aircraft, involving randomized crossover design at 8,000 feet and 12,500 feet with BPAP or control. SpO2, middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and relative tidal volume (TV) index were measured continuously. Psychomotor vigilance test (3‐min) assessed reaction time halfway through taxi and altitude stages. Altitude significantly (p < 0.05) decreased mean SpO2, MCAv, and RR, and increased TV index and HR. There was no effect of altitude (p > 0.05) on reaction time. BPAP increased mean SpO2 at 8,000 feet [Control: 92 ± 1%; BPAP: 94 ± 2%; mean difference (MD) = 2 ± 2%; p = 0.002] and 12,500 feet [Control: 86 ± 4%; BPAP: 89 ± 4%; MD = 2 ± 3%; p = 0.013]. BPAP lowered MCAv at 8,000 feet [Control: 53 ± 10 cm/s; BPAP: 50 ± 9 cm/s; MD = ‐3 ± 2 cm/s; p = 0.001] and 12,500 feet [Control: 52 ± 10 cm/s; BPAP: 50 ± 8 cm/s; MD = ‐2 ± 3 cm/s; p = 0.041]. BPAP increased TV index at 8,000 feet (Control: 6.6 ± 1.3; BPAP:8.1 ± 1.8; MD = 1.9 ± 0.8; p < 0.001) but not 12,500 feet, without effect on RR or reaction time. This study provides preliminary results that BPAP may improve mean SpO2 for recreational aviators up to 12,500 feet without supplemental oxygen.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70210cerebral blood flowreaction timerespiratory ratetidal volume |
| spellingShingle | Jenna L. Taylor Aidan K. Downs Crystal L. Danner J. Hunter Downs III Josh Donkor Jessica I. Johnston Douglas Rozendaal Peter L. Larsen Bruce D. Johnson Douglas T. Summerfield Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study Physiological Reports cerebral blood flow reaction time respiratory rate tidal volume |
| title | Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study |
| title_full | Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study |
| title_fullStr | Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study |
| title_short | Positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation: A pilot study |
| title_sort | positive pressure ventilation improves oxygen saturation at altitude during recreational aviation a pilot study |
| topic | cerebral blood flow reaction time respiratory rate tidal volume |
| url | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70210 |
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