Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator

Nikke Varis; Antti Leinonen; Jesper Perälä; Tuomo K. Leino; Lauri Husa; Roope Sovelius

doi:10.3357/AMHP.6238.2023

Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator

Nikke Varis^*
, Antti Leinonen
, Jesper Perälä
, Tuomo K. Leino
, Lauri Husa
, Roope Sovelius

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In military aviation, due to high-altitude flight operations, hypoxia training is mandatory and nowadays is mainly done as normobaric hypoxia training in flight simulators. During the last decade, scientific data has been published about delayed recovery after normobaric hypoxia, known as a “hypoxia hangover.” Sopite syndrome is a symptom complex that develops as a result of exposure to real or apparent motion, and it is characterized by yawning, excessive drowsiness, lassitude, lethargy, mild depression, and a reduced ability to focus on an assigned task. CASE REPORT: In this study, we present the case of a 49-yr-old pilot who participated in normobaric hypoxia refreshment training in an F/A-18C Hornet simulator and experienced delayed drowsiness, even 3 h after the training. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates the danger of deep hypoxia. Hypoxia training instructions should include restrictions related to driving a car immediately after hypoxia training. In addition, hypoxia may lower the brain threshold for sopite syndrome.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	715-718
Number of pages	4
Journal	Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
Volume	94
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.6238.2023
Publication status	Published - 2023
Publication type	A1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The authors acknowledge flight nurse Nina Eklund, R.N., senior flight surgeon Jarmo Skyttä, M.D., and flight instructor Tuomo Asmundela for their valuable work during the hypoxia training.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

hypoxia training
normobaric
simulator sickness
sopite syndrome

Publication forum classification

Publication forum level 1

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Medicine (miscellaneous)
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Access to Document

10.3357/AMHP.6238.2023Licence: CC BY-NC

s11 (1)Final published version, 501 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2023120810550Licence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

@article{1d16c20425514de9a794e6968319d125,

title = "Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: In military aviation, due to high-altitude flight operations, hypoxia training is mandatory and nowadays is mainly done as normobaric hypoxia training in flight simulators. During the last decade, scientific data has been published about delayed recovery after normobaric hypoxia, known as a “hypoxia hangover.” Sopite syndrome is a symptom complex that develops as a result of exposure to real or apparent motion, and it is characterized by yawning, excessive drowsiness, lassitude, lethargy, mild depression, and a reduced ability to focus on an assigned task. CASE REPORT: In this study, we present the case of a 49-yr-old pilot who participated in normobaric hypoxia refreshment training in an F/A-18C Hornet simulator and experienced delayed drowsiness, even 3 h after the training. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates the danger of deep hypoxia. Hypoxia training instructions should include restrictions related to driving a car immediately after hypoxia training. In addition, hypoxia may lower the brain threshold for sopite syndrome.",

keywords = "hypoxia training, normobaric, simulator sickness, sopite syndrome",

author = "Nikke Varis and Antti Leinonen and Jesper Per{\"a}l{\"a} and Leino, \{Tuomo K.\} and Lauri Husa and Roope Sovelius",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright by The Authors.",

year = "2023",

doi = "10.3357/AMHP.6238.2023",

language = "English",

volume = "94",

pages = "715--718",

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}

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T1 - Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator

AU - Varis, Nikke

AU - Leinonen, Antti

AU - Perälä, Jesper

AU - Leino, Tuomo K.

AU - Husa, Lauri

AU - Sovelius, Roope

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - BACKGROUND: In military aviation, due to high-altitude flight operations, hypoxia training is mandatory and nowadays is mainly done as normobaric hypoxia training in flight simulators. During the last decade, scientific data has been published about delayed recovery after normobaric hypoxia, known as a “hypoxia hangover.” Sopite syndrome is a symptom complex that develops as a result of exposure to real or apparent motion, and it is characterized by yawning, excessive drowsiness, lassitude, lethargy, mild depression, and a reduced ability to focus on an assigned task. CASE REPORT: In this study, we present the case of a 49-yr-old pilot who participated in normobaric hypoxia refreshment training in an F/A-18C Hornet simulator and experienced delayed drowsiness, even 3 h after the training. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates the danger of deep hypoxia. Hypoxia training instructions should include restrictions related to driving a car immediately after hypoxia training. In addition, hypoxia may lower the brain threshold for sopite syndrome.

AB - BACKGROUND: In military aviation, due to high-altitude flight operations, hypoxia training is mandatory and nowadays is mainly done as normobaric hypoxia training in flight simulators. During the last decade, scientific data has been published about delayed recovery after normobaric hypoxia, known as a “hypoxia hangover.” Sopite syndrome is a symptom complex that develops as a result of exposure to real or apparent motion, and it is characterized by yawning, excessive drowsiness, lassitude, lethargy, mild depression, and a reduced ability to focus on an assigned task. CASE REPORT: In this study, we present the case of a 49-yr-old pilot who participated in normobaric hypoxia refreshment training in an F/A-18C Hornet simulator and experienced delayed drowsiness, even 3 h after the training. DISCUSSION: This case report demonstrates the danger of deep hypoxia. Hypoxia training instructions should include restrictions related to driving a car immediately after hypoxia training. In addition, hypoxia may lower the brain threshold for sopite syndrome.

KW - hypoxia training

KW - normobaric

KW - simulator sickness

KW - sopite syndrome

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VL - 94

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JO - Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance

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IS - 9

ER -

Delayed Drowsiness After Normobaric Hypoxia Training in an F/A-18 Hornet Simulator

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Publication forum classification

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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