Oxygen consumption in military amputees and subjects healthy previous to ascent to high altitude

Consumo de oxígeno en militares amputados y sujetos sanos previo al ascenso a gran altitud

The measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) varies with the use of prostheses and the altitude, we compare the results of measuring VO2 among a group of amputees and other subjects healthy at the altitude of Bogotá.

Objective: Compare the VO2 values in subjects with transtibial amputation with healthy patients obtained at altitude of 2,690 meters prior to ascent to high altitude. 

Materials and methods: comparison of the values of peak oxygen consumption and peak oxygen consumption adjusted per kilogram of subjects with regular physical training to develop successful climbing at 5,400 meters included in series of cases where it applied an incremental exercise test at altitude of Bogota. The values obtained were compared using Mann Whitney Test.

Results: We obtained information from two series with a total of 13 subjects, the first of 3 subjects with transtibial amputation and the other with 10 healthy subjects. All amputees were men between 27 and 48 years in the group of healthy subjects were 8 men and 2 women between 18 and 46 years. The VO2 peak mean in amputees were 2519 L / min with a range of 2,147 ml / min to 2739 ml / min and 3,084 ml / min with a range from 2056 to 4700 ml / min in healthy subjects. The VO2/kg mean in amputees were 34 ml / kg / min with a range of 26 to 40 ml / kg / min and 45.9 ml / kg / min with a range of 31 to 68 in healthy subjects. The comparison by independent groups no showed significant difference, however the comparison of oxygen consumption adjusted per kilogram had significant difference.

Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference the values obtained at Bogota in terms of peak VO2 between healthy subjects and amputees, when adjusted per Kilogram amputees had VO2 mean lowest.