{"title":"Paradoxical air embolism in pigs with a patent foramen ovale.","authors":"A Vik, B M Jenssen, A O Brubakk","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent studies have indicated that divers with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) are at risk of developing some forms of decompression sickness. Thus, the objective of the present study was to investigate if the occurrence of paradoxical air embolism (PAE) was enhanced in pigs with a PFO compared to the occurrence in pigs without such a defect. Out of 54 pigs, 18 had a PFO (group PFO), and the other 36 composed the controls (group C). The pigs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and received venous air infusion at four different rates (0.050, 0.075, 0.100, and 0.200 ml.kg-1.min-1). PAE was monitored by use of a transesophageal echocardiographic probe to detect if any arterial air bubbles were present in the left atrium or the aorta. We found that PAE appeared at a lower infusion rate in group PFO than in group C. When PAE occurred, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure and the mean arterial pressure were significantly higher in pigs with a PFO than in the control pigs. Finally, the infused air volume per kilogram of body weight in group PFO was significantly lower than that observed in group C. The results demonstrated that the risk of PAE occurring in mechanically ventilated pigs with a PFO was greater compared to the risk observed in pigs without a PFO.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 5","pages":"361-74"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12682728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Xenon washout from the rabbit femur during short hyperbaric exposures.","authors":"T R Davis","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>133Xenon washout from the femora of 5 anesthetized rabbits was recorded during short hyperbaric exposures (3 atm abs). Equipment tests showed that the scintillation counter was heat sensitive. The recorded count rate from a constant source of 133xenon decreased during compression (temperature rose 5 degrees C) and increased during decompression (temperature fell 5 degrees C). When the scintillation counter was thermally insulated, the rate of xenon washout from the femur remained unchanged in all rabbits during these hyperbaric exposures. The conclusion is that the rate of xenon washout from the femur is not affected by changes in ambient pressure. As most scintillation counters are heat sensitive, it is possible that the previous report of such changes was erroneous and caused by heat sensitivity of the recording equipment.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 5","pages":"355-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12529201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intravascular bubble composition in guinea pigs: a possible explanation for differences in decompression risk among different gases.","authors":"R S Lillo, M E Maccallum, J M Caldwell","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Differences in risk of decompression sickness (DCS) that have been observed among inert gases may reflect differences in gas solubility or diffusivity or both. A higher risk gas might generate a larger volume of evolved gas during decompression, thereby increasing the probability of DCS. If this hypothesis is correct, the composition of bubbles that develop during decompression should reflect such gas differences. Unanesthetized guinea pigs were compressed to depths ranging from 250 to 350 fsw with air, He-O2 (21% O2) or one of a number of N2-He-O2 or N2-Ar-O2 mixtures (21% O2). Animals were held at depth from 15 to 60 min, then decompressed slowly (60 fsw/min) or rapidly (less than 15 s) to 5 fsw. If severe DCS developed, as judged by changes in physiologic variables, death usually occurred quickly. Gas/blood samples were then immediately withdrawn from the right atrium or the inferior vena cava, and the gas phase analyzed for He, N2, Ar, O2, and CO2 via gas chromatography. Bubbles from all dives contained 5-9% CO2, 1-4% O2, with the balance inert gas. Bubbles after N2-He-O2 dives contained substantially more N2 than He (up to 1.9 times more) compared to the dive mixture; bubbles after N2-Ar-O2 dives contained more Ar than N2 (up to 1.8 times more). For N2-He-O2 dives, the actual inert gas makeup of bubbles was dependent on the time-at-depth and the decompression profile. Results may reflect differences among He, N2, and Ar in tissue solubility/diffusivity and gas exchange rates, and support the rank order of increasing DCS risk (He less than N2 less than Ar) and rate of gas exchange (N2 less than He) observed previously during rat dives.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 5","pages":"375-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12529202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cerebral blood flow distribution during exposure to 5 bar oxygen in awake rats.","authors":"G W Bergö, I Tyssebotn","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cardiac output (CO) were measured in conscious rats by the microsphere method during control, after 5 and 60 min at 5 bar O2, and 5 min after decompression to air. The arterial acid-base balance was essentially unchanged during hyperbaric O2 and after decompression, except for a slightly reduced CO2 and HCO3 during the O2 exposure. The heart rate (HR) fell at 1 bar O2, continued to fall during compression, and remained low. A marked HR rise occurred in air after decompression. The systolic arterial pressure (AP) increased, while mean AP was constant during the O2 exposure. The CO and total cerebral blood flow fell in proportion to the arterial O2 content increase. The rCBF was unevenly distributed in control, and fell to a disparate degree and remained low in some regions during O2 exposure. Due to the rCBF fall, the O2 supply was limited, the glucose supply was reduced, and CO2 and heat transport probably were limited, suggesting a labile metabolic state locally in the brain. After decompression, blood flow remained low in several regions, making hypoxia likely for a considerable time in several brain areas, whereas the rest of the brain had normalized or increased blood flow. The HR and systolic AP remained high for at least 30 min after decompression.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 5","pages":"339-54"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12529200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of energy requirements from body mass, lean body mass, fat content, and energy intake in GUSI dives.","authors":"M Busch-Stockfisch, B Von Böhlen","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study reports the changes in body composition measured during 6 deep saturation dives, the depths and the working hours performed during the dives, and the effects of these parameters on the energy requirements. Changes in lean body mass could be avoided if the working days amounted to 40-45% of the total dive time. Energy requirement depended not only on working days but also on the diving depth. Physical work at great depth requires a disproportional increase in the energy requirements beginning between 200 and 360 m. Under working conditions at 450 msw, energy requirements increased about 30% relative to the total energy needs under normal conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"263-70"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12526851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F Bowser-Riley, M J Cornish, R Hainsworth, C Kidd, R C Lyons
{"title":"An investigation of cardiovascular reflexes during a trimix saturation dive to 450 msw (GUSI 17).","authors":"F Bowser-Riley, M J Cornish, R Hainsworth, C Kidd, R C Lyons","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The study examines the hypothesis that the carotid sinus heart rate baroreflex responses are changed in human subjects on exposure to 450 msw. Baroreceptor reflex changes in heart rate (expressed as ms/mmHg applied pressure) were evoked by application of negative or positive pressure to a cuff surrounding the neck. At 450 msw using trimix, the mean resting heart rate of divers slowed significantly from 64 +/- 1.3 beats/min at surface to 55 +/- 1.4 beats/min at 450 msw, respiratory rate decreased from 15 +/- 1.4 at surface to 11 +/- 2 at 450 msw, and sinus arrhythmia increased. There was no change in arterial blood pressure. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity to an increased carotid sinus transmural pressure was reduced from 5.6 +/- 2.9 (mean +/- SEM) at surface to 2.4 +/- 0.8 ms.mmHg-1 at 450 msw; sensitivity to decreased carotid sinus transmural pressure increased from 2.2 +/- 0.4 ms.mmHg-1 at surface to 5.1 +/- 0.2 ms.mmHg-1 at 450 msw. A progressive shortening of cardiac interval during breath hold in expiration was also noted. When this shortening of interval was incorporated into the analysis of baroreceptor reflex sensitivity, no significant change in sensitivity was observed but the overall baroreflex stimulus-response relationship shifted downward.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"271-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12526852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J M Goldinger, S K Hong, J R Claybaugh, A K Niu, S I Gutman, R E Moon, P B Bennett
{"title":"Renal responses during a dry saturation dive to 450 msw.","authors":"J M Goldinger, S K Hong, J R Claybaugh, A K Niu, S I Gutman, R E Moon, P B Bennett","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Four subjects were compressed to a simulated depth of 450 msw (46 bar) for 37 days in the main research chamber of the German underwater simulator diving facility at the GKSS Research Center, Geesthacht. The ambient gas was trimix. Urine was collected at 0700, 1300, and 1900 h each day for analysis of Na+, K+, volume, osmolality, and creatinine. Urine, antidiuretic hormone (ADH), and aldosterone were analyzed separately. Daily fluid, Na+, and K+ intake were analyzed throughout the dive. The aim of the investigation was to confirm the existence of a diuresis and natriuresis which had been observed in earlier saturation dives to 31 atm abs using He-O2. A significant diuresis was observed during compression despite a decrease in fluid intake. After compression the diuresis decreased somewhat but remained significantly above precompression control levels during the entire hyperbaric exposure. No significant change in fluid intake was observed. Daily Na+ and K+ excretion increased significantly during compression, which was accompanied by a significant increase in nocturnal excretion of Na+ and K+. Daily intake of Na+ and K+ decreased throughout the dive. Daily urine ADH decreased immediately upon compression and was associated with a parallel decrease in urine osmolality. In contrast, urinary aldosterone excretion exhibited no change during the dive despite the increase in Na+ and K+ excretion and decrease in Na+ intake.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"287-93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12665739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Scope and design of the GUSI international research program.","authors":"P B Bennett, H Schafstall","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During the 1980s a large new simulated underwater saturation diving system was constructed at GKSS, Geesthacht, Germany. This German Underwater Simulator (GUSI) has performed over 18 trimix (helium, 5% nitrogen, oxygen) dives with 115 divers at depths to 600 m, including 9 to 450 m or deeper for a total of 2672 man-days of saturation and 994 days of welding and other work. From October 1989, an international research program was initiated to permit scientists from other countries to carry out physiologic and medical research during these working dives. The results of the first year's program from 3 dives, GUSI 14, 16, and 17, all to 450 m, are described in this special edition of Undersea Biomedical Research. This brief paper gives the scope, design, and objectives of the program, the dive profiles, and the scientists and projects involved.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"231-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12526264","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R E Moon, T A Fawcett, A J Exposito, E M Camporesi, P B Bennett, J Holthaus
{"title":"Platelet count in deep saturation diving.","authors":"R E Moon, T A Fawcett, A J Exposito, E M Camporesi, P B Bennett, J Holthaus","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Platelet counts were measured in 10 divers during the course of 4 experimental deep dives (450 and 600 m) and different anticoagulants were tested. The use of sodium citrate as an anticoagulant was associated with artifactual thrombocytopenia, whereas ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid proved to be satisfactory. During one of the dives (450 m) the use of fluorocarbon to remove excess dissolved inert gas before decompression of the samples was systematically tested. Mean platelet count decreased from 272,600 +/- 29,400 mm-3 (mean +/- SD) on Day 7 (450 m) to 177,700 +/- 26,400 mm-3 on Day 12 (360 m). Platelet count had recovered to 209,900 +/- 20,700 mm-3 at the time of surfacing. Mean hematocrit (expressed in percent) increased from 44.7 +/- 2.2 predive to 59.4 +/- 2.0 on Day 7 (450 m) to 40.9 +/- 2.8 at the time of surfacing. These changes were statistically significant (P less than 0.05). Platelet counts on samples that had been degassed with fluorocarbon were not different from samples that had been decompressed without degassing.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"279-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12665738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of mental task load on fronto-central theta activity in a deep saturation dive to 450 msw.","authors":"J Lorenz, B Lorenz, M Heineke","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increase of theta activity (4-7 Hz) in the electroencephalogram (EEG) during deep diving is commonly attributed to pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the high pressure neurologic syndrome. The aim of this study was to clarify whether more precise cognitive aspects of the condition may be described in which theta activity occurs during a deep dive. Among 4 divers who were repeatedly examined during the GUSI 14 dive to 450 msw, 3 divers exhibited a pronounced correlation between short-term memory load, as varied by the memory set size of Sternberg's memory search task (MST), and the size of a distinct peak in the theta band of the EEG-power spectrum. The power of this peak was greatest in the fronto-central electrode position (Fz), increased dramatically during MST-performance at pressure, and failed to subside fully 1 day before surfacing. Despite the close dependency of observed theta activity on cognitive demands, no consistent correlation with performance measures (mean reaction time and errors) was found. In one diver, theta waves of similar morphology appeared in the resting EEG and increased significantly during the dive. We suggest two alternative explanations for the positive interaction of memory load and hyperbaric exposure on Fz-theta: a) Both factors induce a state of increased mental effort or selectivity of attention, known to be accompanied by frontal theta activity from normobaric studies. b) Pressure abnormally facilitates or patterns rhythmical excitations underlying theta activity that would occur naturally to a lesser extent during certain mental activities, learning, or repetitive short-term memory operations.</p>","PeriodicalId":76778,"journal":{"name":"Undersea biomedical research","volume":"19 4","pages":"243-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1992-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"12526850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}