Hemostatic Alterations Following Severe Dysbaric Stress
Abstract
Hemostatic parameters were measured in the blood of mature Sprague Dawley rats during a three-day period following exposure to a compression- decompression schedule designed to produce severe dysbaric stress. The animals were compressed on air to 300 feet of sea water for 30 minutes and stage decompressed over a 42-minute interval. Acute decompression stress produced a transient decrease in clotting time. Circulating platelet population was unchanged during the early phase of recovery from severe decompression but significantly declined by two days post-surfacing and then returned to control levels by the end of the observation period. Associated with this thrombocytopenic episode was a tendency toward platelet aggregation. Core temperature measurements indicated the presence of a chronic hyperthermic condition. A significant hyperfibrinogenemia developed by one day post-dive with a normalization of fibrinogen content occurring during the following two days. No alterations in either prothrombin time or partial thromboplastic time were detected. This animal research has much significance in the biomedical aspects of human diver safety and health.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 12, 1974
- Accession Number
- AD0787065
Entities
People
- Donald V. Tappan
- Michael J. Jacey
- Richard O. Madden
Organizations
- Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory