Report of Evaluation of Decompression Sickness, Beale AFB, 10-14 Aug 2009

Abstract

Convincing evidence of at least four very severe cases of central nervous system DCS and three cases of chokes. Several cases of probable and possible neurological and joint pain DCS cases. Cases are of a type and severity rarely found in flight operations. Appropriate treatment provided in the AOR. May be the direct result of increased physical activity in the cockpit and the longer (9-11 hours) altitude exposures. Signs and symptoms recur with a possible temporal relationship to the commercial flight home. Other factors undiscovered may also play a role; for example, homes are at a higher altitude than Beale AFB. Additionally, some subtle symptoms (i.e., fatigue) may be unrecognized and/or inadequately treated in theater prior to flight home. Symptoms persist for weeks, months, or longer and are very similar to traumatic brain injury symptoms. This may represent a "new" or previously unrecognized post-DCS syndrome.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA526033

Entities

People

  • Andy Pilmanis
  • Robert S. Michaelson
  • Thomas Morgan

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Altitude Chambers
  • Brain Injuries
  • Central Nervous System
  • Cerebral Edema
  • Decompression
  • Decompression Sickness
  • Department Of Defense
  • High Altitude
  • Nervous System
  • Physical Activity
  • Signs And Symptoms
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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  • Theoretical Analysis.