title: Nerve conduction velocity in man during deep diving to 360 msw.
abstract: The function of the sensory and motor median nerves was examined in 6 divers during a simulated dive to 360 meters of seawater (msw), with a mixture of helium and oxygen (heliox) as breathing gas. Divers were examined in the compression chamber before the dive, at 360, 300, 240, 130, 50, and 5 msw, and with skin temperatures ranging from 29.2 degrees to 35.2 degrees C. Examinations were performed with superficial stimulating and recording electrodes. Fast sensory nerve conduction decreased with increase in hyperbaric pressure and with decrease in skin temperature. There was no significant correlation between slow sensory conduction and hyperbaric pressure. Distal motor latency increased with increase in hyperbaric pressure and with decrease in skin temperature. The effect of pressure was independent of temperature. No significant functional changes were detected in the main nerve trunk proximal to the wrist or in the F-wave responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Haukeland Hospital, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Todnem
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Riise
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nyland
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Aarli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000503:physiopathology; D009431:Neural Conduction; D012881:Skin Temperature