|
|
||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 Operational and Undersea Medicine, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
2 Medical Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
3 Medical School, University of North Carolina, North Carolina, United States
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dainerh{at}nmrc.navy.mil.
Background: Disabled submarine (DISSUB) survivors will achieve inert gas tissue saturation within 24 h. Direct ascent to the surface when saturated carries a high risk of decompression sickness (DCS) and death, yet may be necessary during rescue or escape. Oxygen has demonstrated benefits in decreasing morbidity and mortality resulting from DCS by enhancing inert gas elimination. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) also mitigate the effects of DCS by decreasing bubble formation and increasing O2 delivery. Hypothesis: Combining O2 pre-breathe (OPB) and PFC administration will reduce the incidence of DCS and death following saturation in an established 20-kg swine model. Methods: Yorkshire swine (20 ± 6.5 kg) were compressed to 5 ATA in a dry chamber for 22 h before randomization into 1 of 4 groups: 1) air and saline, 2) OPB and saline, 3) OPB with PFC given at depth, 4) OPB with PFC given after surfacing. OPB animals received >90% O2 for 9 min at depth. All animals were returned to the surface (1 ATA) without decompression stops. Results: The incidence of severe DCS < 2 h after surfacing at 96%, 63%, 82% and 29% for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The incidence of death was 88%, 41%, 54%, and 5%, for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusions: OPB combined with PFC administration after surfacing provided the greatest reduction in DCS morbidity and mortality in a saturation swine model. O2-related seizure activity before reaching surface did not negatively affect outcome, but further safety studies are warranted.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
B. D. Spiess Perfluorocarbon emulsions as a promising technology: a review of tissue and vascular gas dynamics J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2009; 106(4): 1444 - 1452. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Y. Bai, R. T. Mahon, J. C. White, P. R. Brink, and K. H. Chon Impairment of the autonomic nervous function during decompression sickness in swine J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2009; 106(3): 1004 - 1009. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |