Treatment of decompression sickness with a perfluorocarbon emulsion (FC-43).
Decompression sickness is caused by the production of tissue and blood stream inert gas bubbles. Perfluorocarbon emulsions (PFC) have enhanced O2 and N2 solubilities as well as a small particle size as properties. The effects of treatment with a PFC (FC-43) and 100% oxygen on decompression sickness were investigated in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats compressed to 6.8 ATA and rapidly decompressed. Survival in animals receiving PFC and 100% oxygen was significantly longer (P = 0.01) than in those receiving a 6% hetastarch (H) treatment. The PFC survivors at 24 h did not demonstrate any neurologic deficits, whereas the 1 H animal surviving at 24 h was ataxic and not eating. Those animals who died most often did so within minutes after decompression, suggesting a hemodynamic demise. We conclude that PFC treatment when coupled with 100% oxygen breathing provides both hemodynamic and neurologic protection from decompression sickness.
Spiess
B D
BD
Department of Anesthesia, Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612.
McCarthy
R J
RJ
Tuman
K J
KJ
Woronowicz
A W
AW
Tool
K A
KA
Ivankovich
A D
AD
D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D005466:Fluorocarbons; C008807:perfluorotributylamine; D010100:Oxygen