Studies on heat output from the hand of frostbite subjects
Nair, C.S.; Singh, I.; Malhotra, M.S.; Mathew, L.; Dasgupta, A.; Purakayastha, S.S.; Shanker, J.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 48(3): 192-194
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 857795 Document Number: 115402
Subjects (12), who had suffered 1st-3rd-degree frostbite at high altitude during winter, at Delhi, India were studied. At normal sea level pressure there (PB 740 mm Hg) and in a decompression chamber at a simulated altitude of 4085 m, the studies were at both 26.degree. C and 6.8.degree. C. A group of control (non-frostbite) subjects of comparable age were also studied for their heat output at 26.degree. C, PB 740 mm Hg. Heat output from the hands of a group of mountaineers from the sea level was also studied at 2121 m at 25.degree. C and 4485 m at 7.degree. C. The frostbite subjects had a significantly higher heat output at PB 740 mm Hg and 26.degree. C than the non-frostbite subjects. When the former were tested at sea level (PB 740 mm Hg) at 6.8.degree. C, the hand heat output showed a significant decrease. On testing them at a simulated altitude of 4085 m at 26.degree. C and at 6.8.degree. C, a highly significant reduction in hand heat output was observed compared to their initial value at sea level (740 mm Hg) and 26.degree. C. Their hand heat output also showed a very highly significant decrease compared to mountaineers at 4485 m and 7.degree. C.