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Page: Decompression Sickness
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Decompression sickness is usually the result of inadequate decompression following exposure to increased pressure. The disease is usually mild and not an immediate threat. However, it must be noted that serious injury can occur. As a general rule, the sooner treatment is initiated, the better the chance for a full recovery.
Decompression sickness is also known as "the bends" or Caisson Disease.
Mechanism of injury
During a dive, the body tissues absorb nitrogen in proportion to the surrounding pressure. As long as the diver remains at pressure the excess nitrogen is exhaled by the lungs. However, if the body is subjected to a rapid loss of pressure (such as rapid ascent) the nitrogen will expand into bubbles and diffuse into the tissue and bloodstream before it has a chance to be exhaled by the lungs.
Once there is an accumulation of sufficient nitrogen, bubbles will form as the pressure upon the nitrogen is decreased. If the bubbles form in or near joints, this will cause joint pains which contributed to the nickname of the "bends" .
Bubbles may form in any part of the body, but form in different types of tissue at different concentrations. For example, fatty tissue absorbs nitrogen at a much faster rate than muscle or bone tissue, but that fatty tissue also off-gasses the nitrogen at a much faster rate. The different concentrations of nitrogen in the different tissues explain why symptoms may not occur until the diver has been on the surface for quite awhile.
Numbness, paralysis and disorders of higher cerebral function may also occur as the bubble from the various tissues increase in size.
Symptoms
* Fatigue
* Skin itch
* Pain in joints or muscles
* Dizziness, vertigo, ringing in the ears
* Numbness, tingling and paralysis
* Shortness of breath
Signs
* Skin rash
* Paralysis, muscle weakness
* Difficulty in urinating
* Confusion, personality changes, bizarre behavior
* Loss of memory, tremors
* Staggering
* Bloody, frothy sputum
* Collapse or unconsciousness
Signs and symptoms can appear immediately after surfacing, but may take up to a day or two to appear. Delayed onset is rare, but does happen.
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Important notice:
The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other
qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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