VENTILATORY DYNAMICS UNDER HYPERBARIC STATES

Abstract

Eleven U. S. Navy divers performed comparative dynamic pulmonary function tests under conditions of increasing density of the respiratory media. Variations in density and viscosity were produced by having the subjects breath air and heliumoxygen mixes in alternate studies while being subjected successively to 1 through 15 atmospheres absolute pressure. Substitution of 95% helium-5% oxygen at 15 atm. abs. produced significantly less variation from normal in all parameters measured. Mean figures were 76.8% of predicted MBC, 70. 9% first second TVC, and an MEF of 281 LPM. The increased work of breathing accompanying increased density of the respiratory media probably accounts for the relative decrease in RMV previously observed in underwater swimmers. Helium- oxygen mixtures provide a more ideal respiratory media than nitrogen-oxygen mixtures for marked hyperbaric conditions, especially under circumstances requiring high flow rates and large respiratory minute volumes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 15, 1962
Accession Number
AD0289217

Entities

People

  • Lloyd H. Leve
  • Robert D. Workman
  • William B. Wood

Organizations

  • United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Flow
  • Barometric Pressure
  • Brain
  • Diving
  • Flow
  • Flow Rate
  • Gases
  • Government Procurement
  • Measurement
  • Partial Pressure
  • Pressurization
  • Pulmonary Function
  • Respiration
  • Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
  • Sea Water
  • Turbulent Flow
  • Vital Statistics

Readers

  • Combustion science or combustion engineering.
  • Marine Mammal Biology
  • Regression Analysis.