Investigation of Hematologic and Pathologic Response to Decompression.
Abstract
Our investigations evaluated the response of 67 miniature swine to 4760 hours of simulated diving in our chambers. The study included the testing of 1404 blood samples for kinetic measurements of hemostatic mechanisms, 425 radiographs for detection of bone disease and numerous histologic slides for microscopic examination. Certain evidence accumulated appeared important and unequivocal: (1) Dysbaric osteonecrosis was produced in miniature swine following a single decompression exposure. (2) Hemostatic changes seen in diving animals and humans were the result of the decompression process, and more specifically, the relative tissue inert gas tension. (3) The manifestation of the hemostatic changes were blocked by the administration of antithrombotic medication in both animals and human divers. (4) Blocking of the hemostatic mechanism changes with antithrombotic medication did not prevent the occurrence of osteonecrosis. (5) Tissue injury occurred with the first decompression insult and was aggravated by repeated exposure. (6) Severe endothelial and small valcular damage occurred following compression/decompression exposures which did not produce signs of decompression sickness. Other data suggested that: (1) Bubbles passing through a vessel interact with the endothelium to produce the changes that were seen. (2) Antithrombic medication facilitates the production of decompression-related osteonecrosis. (3) Exposure of basement membranes collagen is instrumental in producing hemostatic changes. (4) Collagen crosslinking is different in animals exposed to inadequate decompression than in normal controls.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 10, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA062440
Entities
People
- K. H. Smith
- L. A. Harker
- P. J. Stegall
- S. J. Slichter
- V. L. Richmond