Abstract
A 31-year-old Japanese male who was climbing on Porongri (China, 7292m) in 1982, experienced headache and nausea at the height of 4900m. He was given diuretic and anodyne, and continued climbing to 6700m. He was carried down to 5800m because of having anorexia, severe fatigue and breathlessness, where he complained of severe headache, vomiting, and at 5300m, left-hemiconvulsion seizure appeared. On the next day, paralysis of extrimities was found. When he was flown to Chengdu (700m), he had an attack of left chest pain, cough, bloody sputum and fever.
On admission to our hospital, right hemiplegia and left hemiparesis with Babinski's sign were seen. Unenhanced brain CT scan demonstrated low density at bilateral parietal area. Chest roentgenogram showed consolidation in the left lower lung field. Arteriogram disclosed the obstruction of pulmonary artery, and left lower lobectomy was performed. Gross examination showed lobar atelektasis with pulmonary infarction of the basal area. Microscopic examination revealed intra-alveolar hemorrhage, alveolar congestion, atelektasis, multiple pulmonary emboli and infarction.
Recently, 9 months later, he improved remarkably, but bilateral low density areas on CT scan are still observed.
