Introduction Patients undergoing hemodialysis may develop hypoxemia during the procedure, and hypoxemia may become more intense if hemodialysis is performed in a high altitude environment. Objectives To assess variations in oxygen saturation in patients undergoing hemodialysis at different altitude levels. Material and methods This is a prospective case series, where patients from hemodialysis programs in three cities were assessed. These places were at 101-, 2335-, and 3825- meters above sea level. Patients had their oxygen saturation measured in a semi-sitting position with a pulse oxymeter device. Measurements were taken before, during, and at the end of hemodialysis sessions. Results Sixty-five patients undergoing hemodialysis were included. They were from three cities at different altitude above sea level. Oxygen saturation significantly decreased as long as altitude increased (97,3...

Introducción: Los pacientes en hemodiálisis pueden presentar hipoxemia durante este procedimiento, la cual puede ser mayor si la hemodiálisis se realiza en ciudades de gran altitud.Objetivos: Evaluar las variaciones de la saturación de oxígeno en pacientes en hemodiálisis a diferentes altitudes. Material y métodos: Es una serie de casos prospectivos, donde se evaluaron pacientes de un programa de hemodiálisis crónica en tres ciudades, localizadas a diferentes altitudes:101, 2 335 y3 825 metros sobre el nivel del mar, en los que se evaluó la saturación de oxígeno en posición semisentada con pulsoxímetro: antes, durante y al finalizar el procedimiento de hemodiálisis. Resultados: Se incluyeron 65 pacientes en hemodiálisis, de 3 ciudades de diferente altitud, con características similares, la saturación de oxígeno disminuyó significativamente a medida que aumentaba la al...

Introduction Patients undergoing hemodialysis may develop hypoxemia during the procedure, and hypoxemia may become more intense if hemodialysis is performed in a high altitude environment. Objectives To assess variations in oxygen saturation in patients undergoing hemodialysis at different altitude levels. Material and methods This is a prospective case series, where patients from hemodialysis programs in three cities were assessed. These places were at 101-, 2335-, and 3825- meters above sea level. Patients had their oxygen saturation measured in a semi-sitting position with a pulse oxymeter device. Measurements were taken before, during, and at the end of hemodialysis sessions. Results Sixty-five patients undergoing hemodialysis were included. They were from three cities at different altitude above sea level. Oxygen saturation significantly decreased as long as altitude increased (97,3...