Advances on the etiology of bubble formation mechanism of altitude decompression sickness

Objective To investigate the new research solutions on special environmental medicine by discussing the etiology of bubble formation mechanism in the basic researches of altitude decompression. Literature resource and selection Research papers and literature reviews published at home and abroad. Literature quotation Fifty-eight published papers and reviews were cited. Literature synthesis The role of air nucleus, the precursors of bubbles, in the etiology of decompression sickness was reviewed and analyzed including the normal existence of air nucleus in vivo, the mechanism of its formation and stable existence. At present, there is no definite conclusion on above three aspects and the researches are still facing the challenge. In addition, the relationship between bubble formation and pathological manifestations of decompression sickness, the effect of movement on bubble formation, the methodology of micro-bubble study in vivo, the role of patent foramen ovale in the pathogenesis of neuropathic decompression sickness, and the relationship and significance between bubble study in vivo and some subjects related to clinical medicine were discussed. The scope of this paper covers the main issues in the basic research of altitude decompression sickness, and has certain reference significance for understanding and planning the future research direction in this field. Conclusions With the help of interdisciplinary integration, the etiological study of decompression sickness is expected to make substantial breakthroughs and the research and development of special environmental medicine will have a new direction of solution. Key words: Altitude; Decompression sickness; Bubble; Gas nucleus; Review