Relative hypoxemia at depth during breath-hold diving investigated through arterial blood gas analysis and lung ultrasound

Abstract

During breath-hold diving, arterial partial pressure of oxygen ([Formula: see text]) and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide ([Formula: see text]) are believed to increase progressively during descent, as explained by theory, previous end-tidal alveolar gas measurements, and arterial blood gas analysis in hyperbaric chambers. Recent experiments in real underwater environment found a paradoxical [Formula: see text] drop at depth in some divers. This work confirms that some breath-hold divers can experience hypoxemia at depth. The hypothesized explanation for such a discrepancy is lung atelectasis, as suggested by lung ultrasound findings.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2023
Source ID
10.1152/japplphysiol.00777.2022

Entities

People

  • Danilo Cialoni
  • Ennio Talamonti
  • Enrico M. Camporesi
  • Gerardo Bosco
  • Giacomo Garetto
  • Lorenzo Zucchi
  • Luca Martani
  • Matteo Paganini
  • Richard E Moon
  • Tommaso Antonio Giacon

Organizations

  • Divers Alert Network
  • Duke University
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Tampa General Hospital
  • University of Padua

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Theoretical Analysis.
  • Underwater engineering and Marine Technology.