Acoustic-Optical Detection of Decompression Sickness in Hamsters
Abstract
Severe decompression sickness was produced by explosive decompression in twenty-three of forty-one anesthetized hamsters. Analysis of the post- decompression respiration pattern and untrasonic transmission led to two observations: (1) animals without apnea never demonstrated macroscopic bubbles, and (2) animals which gasped always demonstrated macroscopic bubbles. The ultrasound attenuation generally preceded gasping but did not precede apnea unless more than ten minutes had elapsed since decompression. The respiratory signs were considered to be a consequence of pulmonary aero-embolism. Pilot studies with 2-(4-phenyl-lpiper-azinylmethyl) cyclohexanone HCL, showed that it decreased mortality in unanesthetized hamsters but increased mortality in animals anesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Pilot studies with piphenhydramine in anesthetized hamsters showed no change in mortality rates. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0743475
Entities
People
- Benjamin E. Smith
- Richard M. Fine
- Wesley D. Ulrich
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center