Decompression disease (caisson disease): treatment, causes, symptoms, prevention

As you know, the difference in atmospheric pressure affects the person's health. Especially well know this people who are fond of mountaineering or descend deep under the water. Reduction of atmospheric pressure of the environment for a short time is usually not accompanied by severe disturbances for the body. Nevertheless, a long stay in the "discharged" air is very dangerous. Some people with sudden pressure drops develop a condition such as decompression sickness. The severity of the condition is determined by the degree of influence on the person, the protective forces of the body, as well as the timely measures taken by the doctor. In spite of the fact that decompression cofferd in most cases gives in to treatment, there are many cases of lethal outcome. The connection of atmospheric pressure with this pathology was established in the middle of the 17th century by the scientist Boyle. Nevertheless, this medical phenomenon is still being studied.

What is decompression sickness?

This pathology is associated with occupational exposure to the body. Despite the fact that R. Boyle is one of the first scientists to establish the relationship between the drop in atmospheric pressure and changes in the tissues of living organisms (snake's eyeball), decompression sickness became known to the world much later. This happened in the late 19th century, when the first air pumps and caissons were invented. At that time, pathology began to be attributed to occupational hazards. People who worked in conditions of compressed air in order to build tunnels under water, at first did not notice any changes. Deterioration of the general condition appeared at the time when atmospheric pressure was reduced to normal figures. For this reason, pathology has the second name - caisson disease. Depth is the main component of this state, since it is there that unusual pressure for our organism is noted. The same applies to height. Given that the symptoms of the pathological condition appear with a differential pressure (from high to low), diagnosis is not difficult for an experienced specialist.

Who is exposed to decompression sickness?

Caisson disease does not occur suddenly and without cause. There is a risk group - that is, people who are prone to this pathology. The activities of these individuals should be directly related to changes in atmospheric pressure. Previously, the disease was only exposed to caisson workers and climbers. In today's world, the risk group has significantly increased - it began to include astronauts, pilots and divers. Despite the fact that these professions are dangerous, the disease with caisson disease is not the norm. It affects only those who neglect safety techniques or have risk factors. Among them the following provoking influences are distinguished:

1. Slow down the circulation of blood throughout the body. This occurs during dehydration and hypothermia. Also, the slowing of blood flow is observed with aging and cardiovascular pathologies.
2. Formation of low-pressure zones in the blood. This phenomenon is accompanied by the appearance of small air bubbles. The risk factor provoking this condition is excessive physical activity before immersion in water or rising to a height.
3. Increased body weight. This is another factor that contributes to the accumulation of air bubbles in the blood.
4. Reception of alcoholic beverages before diving or rising to a height. Alcohol promotes the fusion of small air bubbles, thereby increasing their size.

High-altitude decompression sickness: the mechanism of development

As is known from the laws of physics, atmospheric pressure affects the solubility of gases in a liquid. This rule was formulated by scientist Henry. According to his statements, the higher the ambient pressure, the better the gas dissolves in the liquid. Given this rule, we can conclude how decompression sickness develops in people at high altitude. Due to prolonged stay in the zone of high atmospheric pressure, the organism of pilots and astronauts, as well as climbers, gets used to this environment. Therefore, the descent to the familiar atmosphere for us causes a sharp deterioration in their condition. Due to the pressure drop, the blood gases begin to dissolve worse, gathering in air bubbles. What is dangerous decompression sickness for pilots and why? The air bubbles formed in the blood stream may increase in size and block the vessel, thereby causing tissue necrosis in this area. In addition, they have the ability to move around the body and enter vital arteries and veins (brain, coronary, pulmonary). These air bubbles act in the role of an embolus, or thrombus, which can cause not only severe disturbances of the condition, but also a lethal outcome.

The development of decompression sickness in divers

The diver's disease has the same mechanism of development. Due to the fact that at great depth the atmospheric pressure is higher than on the surface, with a sharp decrease in it, the blood gases begin to dissolve poorly. However, with the observance of safety precautions and the absence of risk factors, this can be avoided. That the diver did not fall ill with caisson disease, the following conditions are necessary:

1. Use an oxygen cylinder that contains the necessary gas mixtures that reduce compression at a depth.
2. Gradual ascent to the ground. There are special techniques that teach divers correctly to swim out of the depths. Due to the gradual rise in the level of nitrogen in the blood, the bubbles do not form.
3. The ascent in the bathyscaphe is a special hermetic capsule. It allows you to prevent a sharp drop in pressure.
4. Desaturation in special decompression chambers. Due to excretion of nitrogen from the body, the rise does not cause deterioration of the solubility of blood gases.

Types of decompression sickness

There are 2 types of decompression sickness. They are distinguished by the type of vials that contain air bubbles. In accordance with this, each of them is characterized by its clinical picture. With type 1 caisson disease, gas accumulates in small capillaries, arteries and veins, supplying blood to the skin, muscles and joints. In addition, air bubbles can accumulate in the lymphatic vessels.

Underwater and altitude decompression sickness type 2 is a great danger. With it, gas emboli affect the vessels of the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord. These organs are vital, therefore violations in them are serious.

Clinical picture

The clinical picture of the pathology depends on which vessel is struck by air bubbles. Such signs as pruritus, scratching, pain in muscles and joints, which are amplified by turns of the trunk, walking, characterize 1 type of caisson disease. So uncomplicated decompression sickness manifests itself. Symptoms characteristic of type 2 are much more serious. When the cerebral vessels are affected, the following clinical manifestations can occur: loss of visual fields, reduction of its sharpness, dizziness, doubling of objects in the eyes, tinnitus. Embolism of the coronary arteries is manifested by stenocardia and shortness of breath. When the pulmonary vessels are affected with small air bubbles, coughing, suffocation, and lack of air are observed. All these symptoms are typical for the average degree of decompression sickness. In more severe cases, there are significant circulatory disorders with a possible fatal outcome.

Degrees of gravity of the caisson disease

There are easy, medium and severe degrees of decompression sickness. In the first case, the deterioration is insignificant and reversible for a short time. An easy degree is characterized by weakness, muscle and joint pain, arising periodically, skin itching and rashes on the body. Usually these phenomena occur gradually and pass on their own. At an average severity level, significant disturbances occur. Pain in the joints and muscles is constant and more intense, dyspnea, cough, unpleasant sensations in the heart, neurological symptoms. This form requires urgent treatment. Severe form of caisson disease can be manifested by significant respiratory depression, micturition disorders, paresis and paralysis, myocardial infarction, etc. Lethal can result in OHMC in large vessels of the brain, as well as pulmonary embolism.

Diagnosis of caisson disease

Diagnosis of decompression sickness is not very difficult, since pathology develops already in the first hours after ascent from depth or landing. The clinical picture allows you to correctly assess a person's condition in most cases. When suspected of affecting medium and large vessels, instrumental examination methods are required. It is especially important to carry out coronary angiography, MRI of the brain, ultrasound of the veins and arteries of the extremities.

X-ray diagnosis in case of caisson disease

With caisson disease of medium and severe degree, bones and joints are often affected. In some cases, the spinal cord is involved in the process. X-ray method of investigation allows to correctly diagnose decompression sickness. The following changes in the osteoarticular system are distinguished: areas of increased ossification or calcification, changes in the shape of the vertebrae (expansion of the body and decrease in height) - breviscondylia. With this, the disks remain intact. If the spinal cord is involved in the pathological process, one can find its calcifications, in shape resembling shells or clouds.

Treatment of decompression sickness

It should be remembered that with timely assistance, caisson disease can be cured in 80% of cases. For this purpose, special pressure chambers are used, in which oxygen is supplied under high pressure. Thanks to them, the organism undergoes recompression, and particles of nitrogen are removed from the blood. Pressure in the pressure chamber is reduced gradually, so that the patient adapts to the new conditions. In emergency conditions, it is necessary to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to start supplying "pure" oxygen with a mask.

Prevention of decompression sickness

To prevent the development of decompression sickness, you must adhere to safety techniques at depth and high in the air. During the ascent from the water, make stops so that the body can adapt to atmospheric pressure. It is also important to use special equipment - a diving suit and cylinders with oxygen.