Accelerated Decompression from Saturation at 132 Feet of Sea Water With Isobaric oxygenation at 60 Feet of Sea Water
Abstract
Survivors of a disabled submarine (DISSUB) would experience a rise in internal pressure, and, if awaiting rescue long enough, become saturated increasing their risk of decompression sickness (DCS) to nearly 80% Previous work has demonstrated that breathing hyperbaric oxygen before decompression reduces the risk of DCS. A combination of oxygen pre-breathe, coupled with a shorter decompression schedule would enable the safe extraction of survivors from a DISSUB for subsequent re-pressurization in a chamber for a controlled decompression on the surface. Yorkshire swine (70 kg) were catheterized with an external jugular catheter via the Seldinger technique and allowed to recover. Subjects were exposed to 132 feet of seawater (fsw) in a hyperbaric chamber for 22 hr, then decompressed on one of 3 possible profiles (staged, rapid, mixed gas). The accelerated decompression examined here supports its consideration in emergency situations such as DISSUB. Further decompression schedules with oxygen pre-breathing merit additional study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA495419
Entities
People
- Andreas Fahlman
- Hugh M. Dainer
- Kyle Petersen
- Richard T. Mahon
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center