What Is Possible for Patients After Lung Transplantation? The Highest Reported Altitude Achieved by a Lung Transplant Recipient Without Supplemental Oxygen - Climbing Mount Aconcagua (6.961m)

Abstract

Dear Editors, Lung transplantation (LuTX) is an established and effective therapeutic option for patients with end-stage lung disease [1]. Over the past decades, advances in surgical techniques, perioperative management, immunosuppressive strategies, and long-term follow-up care have resulted in significant improvements in survival rates, health-related quality of life, and functional capacity after lung transplantation [2]. Consequently, many recipients are able to resume a broad range of physical activities, including high-intensity and endurance sports. Early publications on this topic are available from other solid organ transplant recipients [3]. In this context, participation in high-altitude mountaineering has been documented in carefully selected liver transplant recipients under close medical supervision [4]. In 2015 a transplanted patient reached the highest mountain peak (6.189m, Island Peak, Nepal) ever [5]. Also, lung transplant recipients are able to adapt to altitude and capable of performing prolonged exercise at high altitude after slow ascent [6,7]. In 2017 eight lung transplanted patients successfully summited Mount Kilimanjaro (5.895 m, Tanzania) under guidance of the Vienna lung transplant team [7,8]. Available evidence suggests that transplanted lungs retain the capacity to physiologically adapt to hypobaric hypoxia and can sustain prolonged physical exertion at high altitude, provided that ascent is gradual and appropriate acclimatization is ensured [7]. Eleven lung transplant recipients reached the summit of Mount Jebel Toubkal (4.167 m, Morocco) in 2019 without any adverse events, despite poorer cardiopulmonary performance compared to healthy volunteers [9]. In addition, they show stable immunosuppressive drug trough levels and Torque Teno virus loads indicate good tolerance relative to physical stress (Mühlbacher, 2026, under review).As part of an international medical expedition under guidance of the Vienna lung transplant team and the respective national team leaders, nine transplanted patients (8 patients after lung transplantation, one patient after liver transplantation) were included to climb Mount Aconcagua (6.961m, Argentina) in January 2026. The expedition was supported by an accompanying team of physicians and professional guides. The actual tour planning was carried out by a professional expedition provider (Furtenbach Adventures GmbH, Rum, Austria) in cooperation with a local expedition provider (Grajales Expeditions, Los Penitentes, Mendoza Province), both of whom have many years of experience in planning and safely conducting expeditions. The selection of possible candidates was based on lung function and spiroergometry and was done in accordance with the included transplant centers in Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Denmark and the USA.Hypoxic conditioning (HC) applied at home as a pre-acclimatization strategy prior to high-altitude exposure may facilitate high-altitude ascents with a reduced risk of developing acute mountain sickness (AMS) [10,11]. However, standardized protocols remain insufficiently defined, and robust scientific data are limited, although pre-acclimatization appears to be a key determinant in the success of rapid ascent expeditions [12]. It is currently unknown how this form of pre-acclimatization affects patients after lung transplantation. To maximize participant safety during the expedition, however, all participants completed a structured home-based HC program comprising at least 200 hours of exposure prior to departure [10]. Participants completed mandatory safety and first aid training prior to the expedition; high flow oxygen systems (Summit Elite System, Summit Oxygen International Ltd) and carbon oxygen cylinders (4L, working pressure 300 bar; Armotech, Czech Republic) where available throughout the expedition for safety reasons.The expedition to Mount Aconcagua (6.962 m, Argentina), followed a structured 19day schedule organized by experienced professional providers. Accordingly, the ascent followed a standard acclimatization protocol via the normal route: approach to Plaza de Mulas Base Camp (BC) (4.350 m) over four days, followed by progressive establishment of higher camps at Plaza Canadá (5.050 m), Nido de Cóndores (5.560 m), and Camp Cólera (6.080 m). The summit attempt (6.961 m) was performed from High Camp Cólera (Figure 1A). Additional days were reserved for weather contingency and descent. Physiological monitoring, including heart rate and peripheral oxygen saturation, was performed using wearable devices provided within the framework of the project. In addition, the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) score was assessed daily based on self-reported symptoms documented by the mountaineers [13].On January 24, a lung transplant recipient successfully reached the summit of Mount Aconcagua (6,962 m, Argentina) together with the accompanying expedition team, without the use of supplemental oxygen. The ascent and descent were completed without adverse clinical events. In particular, no signs or symptoms consistent with high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) were observed during high-altitude exposure.This 51-year-old male lung transplant recipient (BMI 18.3 kg/m²), transplanted in 2002 for cystic fibrosis, resided at 407 m above sea level. Relevant comorbidities included diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (creatinine: 2.57 mg/dl, November 2025); maintenance immunosuppression consisted of once-daily 0.75mg extended-release tacrolimus in combination with everolimus 0.5mg twice daily. He had prior high-altitude exposure, including Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m, Tanzania) [7], without any history of AMS, HAPE, or HACE. Baseline functional assessment demonstrated a maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) of 30.9 ml•kg⁻¹•min⁻¹ (90% predicted; maximal workload 140 W) and an FEV₁ of 2.7 L (86% predicted), indicating preserved exercise capacity and stable graft function prior to the expedition. As part of the pre-acclimatization strategy, the lung transplant recipient completed 311 hours of HC over 36 days (Figure 1B). Following HC, hemoglobin levels remained stable (from 13.7 to 13.8 g/dl). As simulated altitude increased during the preacclimatization phase, the participant experienced only mild symptoms, which was accompanied by a corresponding elevation in AMS scores (maximum AMS-Score of 2, Figure 1B). On the mountain he reported only mild to moderate symptoms of AMS (maximum AMS-Score of 5), and no instances of HAPE or HACE occurred at any point during the expedition (Figure 1C Resting SpO2 values progressively declined with increasing altitude from of 89% at BC to 75% at Camp 3. In contrast, heart rate remained relatively stable throughout the stay on the mountain, with average values ranging from 90 bpm at BC to 95 bpm at Camp 3. In summary, selected patients after lung transplantation are able to tolerate and physiologically adapt to high-altitude exposure when preceded by normobaric hypoxic preacclimatization, without experiencing severe high-altitude-associated complications.Moreover, one lung transplant recipient successfully summited Mount Aconcagua without supplemental oxygen, which, to our knowledge, constitutes the highest reported altitude reached following lung transplantation. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the Medical University of Vienna (2105/2025). The study was performed in accordance with national regulations and institutional guidelines. All participants provided written informed consent before participation.