title: [A study on etiology and pathogenic mechanism of decompression sickness].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explain the etiology of decompression sickness (DCS) and to elucidate its pathogenic mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tunica conjunctiva was examined by microscopy and blood pressure was measured at the exposed femoral arteries in inadequately decompressed animals after hyperbaric exposure. Then pathological examinations were done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals with vascular spasm and dysfunction after decompression showed DCS symptoms. Severe DCS was found in the period of increasing of blood pressure swelling. Appeared in endothelial cells, fracted, hemorrhages were also formed in the body of DCS animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DCS is a disease with vascular spasm and dysfunction caused by decompression. It's resulted from anoxia or pathological change caused by vascular spasm, dysfunction or even failure of blood vessels due to the gas tension (etiology) provoked by supersaturated gas in the blood during descending of ambient pressure. Vascular spasm and dysfunction impede the elimination of gas from the blood, and once the gas amount is sufficient to cause severe ischemia of the circulation system, the state of disease would be severe.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai, China. 918ybx@163.com
authors.forename: Jin-fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Zhong-yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Cheng-xiang
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-zhao
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Tao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004285:Dogs; D004618:Embolism, Air; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D011817:Rabbits