What does Dysbarism mean?
What does Dysbarism mean?
The definition of dysbarism is any adverse medical condition that results from changes in ambient pressure. The term dysbarism covers decompression sickness (DCS), nitrogen narcosis, high-pressure neurological syndrome (HPNS), barotrauma, and arterial gas emboli (AGE).
What is altitude Dysbarism?
Dysbarism includes medical conditions resulting from changes in ambient pressure; they include barotrauma, nitrogen narcosis, high-pressure neurological syndrome, and decompression illness. Dysbarism occurs most commonly in the setting of scuba diving. Middle ear barotrauma is the most common complaint of divers.
What are the bends?
Decompression sickness: Often called “the bends,” decompression sickness happens when a scuba diver ascends too quickly. Divers breathe compressed air that contains nitrogen. At higher pressure under water, the nitrogen gas goes into the body’s tissues.
How is Dysbarism treated?
Extricate the patient from water and immobilize if trauma is suspected. Generally, in-water recompression is not believed to be a safe option. More is discussed about this in Decompression Sickness. Administer 100% oxygen, intubate if necessary, and intravenously administer saline or lactated Ringer solution.
What is caisson’s disease?
Acute decompression syndrome (Caisson’s disease) is an acute neurological emergency in divers. It is caused due to release of nitrogen gas bubbles that impinge the blood vessels of the spinal cord and brain and result in severe neurodeficit. There are very few case reports in Indian literature.
Who discovered the bends?
1841 – Jacques Triger documented the first cases of decompression sickness in humans when two miners involved in pressurised caisson work developed symptoms.
Can you fly after free diving?
Since there is insufficient data about flying after freediving, its again best to err on the side of caution and wait 18 to 24 hours after making deep freedives before getting on a plane.
In what way do Dysbarism and decompression sickness differ?
Decompression illness is a term that refers to both decompression sickness and AGE. Diagnosis of dysbarism can usually be made on history and examination alone. Gas coming out of solution and forming bubbles is the prime cause of decompression sickness, whereas gas contraction and expansion causes barotrauma.
