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Decompression Sickness

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Textbook of Hyperbaric Medicine

Abstract

Decompression sickness (DCS) is a form of dysbarism, which is the general term applied to all changes, pathophysiological changes secondary to altered environmental pressure. This chapter looks at risk factors, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and the treatment of DCS. Early recompression is the only effective treatment for DCS, the increase in pressure redissolving the gas phase and oxygen restoring endothelial disruption and downregulating neutrophil interactions. For air diving recompression with oxygen or helium and oxygen mixtures is preferred to recompression breathing air. Helium and oxygen divers should not be recompressed breathing air. The management of neurological manifestations of DCS is given special attention to avoid late sequelae.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Ninewells Avenue, Dundee, Angus, DD1 9SY, UK

    Philip B. James MB, ChB, DIH, PhD, FFOM

  2. 1 Blaesiring 7, Basel, 4057, Switzerland

    K. K. Jain MD, FRACS, FFPM

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  1. Philip B. James MB, ChB, DIH, PhD, FFOM
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  2. K. K. Jain MD, FRACS, FFPM
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Correspondence to Philip B. James MB, ChB, DIH, PhD, FFOM .

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James, P.B., Jain, K.K. (2017). Decompression Sickness. In: Textbook of Hyperbaric Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47140-2_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47140-2_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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