Chapter 2

TREATMENT
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Dexamethasone injection immediately followed by oral dexamethasone.
Supplemental oxygen.
Rapid descent and medical attention.
Use of a hyberbaric chamber if descent is delayed.

HYDRATION IN HAPE AND HACE
2-131. HAPE and HACE cause increased proteins in the plasma, or the fluid portion of the blood, which
in turn increases blood viscosity. Increased viscosity increases vascular pressure. Vascular leakage caused
by stretching of the vessel walls is made worse because of this increased vascular pressure. From this,
edema, both cerebral and pulmonary, occurs. Hydration simply decreases viscosity.

2-26

TC 3-97.61

26 July 2012