[A study on etiology and pathogenic mechanism of decompression sickness].
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.
Yuan
Jin-fu
JF
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai, China. 918ybx@163.com
Ji
Zhong-yi
ZY
Lei
Cheng-xiang
CX
Wang
Ping
P
Tao
Wen-zhao
WZ
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