Effects of intravenous perfluorocarbon and oxygen breathing on acute decompression sickness in the hamster.
Anesthetized female hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were divided into 3 experimental groups with 16 animals in each group. After control arterial blood pressure and ECG recordings, the animals were placed in a hyperbaric chamber for 30 min at 7 ATA and then decompressed directly to the surface at a rate of 60 fsw/min. After their removal from the chamber, animals were either not treated (group 1); given i.v. saline while breathing 100% oxygen (group 2), or given i.v. oxypherolperfluorochemical (Fluosol-43) perfusion emulsion while breathing 100% oxygen (group 3). Thirty minutes after decompression, all but one of group 1 had died (a 6% survival rate). Group 2 had a 62% survival rate and group 3 had a 94% survival rate. Perfluorochemicals were observed to reduce the number of bubbles formed, enhance bubble disappearance, and reduce dysrhythmias.
Department of Physiology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140.
P R
PR
Lynch
L J
LJ
Krasner
T
T
Vinciquerra
T H
TH
Shaffer
D000818:Animals; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006224:Cricetinae; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008647:Mesocricetus; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy
D001802:Blood Substitutes; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C008807:perfluorotributylamine