Publication Abstracts

The Effectiveness of Ground Level Oxygen Treatment for Altitude Decompression Sickness in Human Research Subjects

Kevin M. Krause, M.S., Ph.D., and Andrew A. Pilmanis, M.S., Ph.D.
Aviat Space Environ Med 2000; 71:115-8

Abstract

Background: Current therapy for altitude decompression sickness (DCS) includes hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ground-level oxygen (GLO). The purpose of this paper is to describe the Air Force Research Laboratory experience in the extensive use of GLO for the treatment of altitude DCS in research subjects. Methods: Data were collected from 2001 altitude chamber subject-exposures. These data, describing DCS symptoms, circulating intracardiac venous gas emboli, and treatment procedures used were collected for each subject exposure and stored in an altitude DCS database. Results: In the database of 2001 subject exposures, 801 subjects (40.0%) were diagnosed with altitude DCS. Subjects reporting DCS symptoms were immediately recompressed to ground level. Of the 749 subjects who received 2 h GLO, 739 (98.7%) resolved completely and required no further treatment. Conclusions: Although not an operational study, these data provide indirect support for the current USAF guidelines for the treatment of altitude DCS with GLO.

Keywords: decompression sickness; treatment; oxygen.

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Table of Contents for Volume 71, Number 2 of the ASME journal.