[Experimental study on mechanism of recompression therapy of decompression sickness].
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate that recompression is the most efficient measure in removing the pathogenic factors.


METHODS
When rabbits were suffering from severe DCS, their pressure were immediately compressed to 0.5 Mpa. Precordial region was monitored continuously with a Doppler flow meter, micrography of the bulbar conjunctiva was done intermittently and the behaviors of the animals were recorded.


RESULTS
Effects of therapeutic recompression and elimination of circulating bubbles were correlated to rate and extent of recovery of microvascular function. The animals' DCS with severe dysfunction or failure of blood vessels, DCS became worse owing to progressive impairment of microvascular function during recompression and decompression.


CONCLUSIONS
The pressure could only cancel the tension provoked by supersaturated gas in the blood so as to relieve the spasm of the compensatory blood vessels, which can restore the blood circulation and reverse the developing course of the DCS. The pressure, however, couldn't recover the function of the blood vessels with severe dysfunction or failure, or repair the injured tissues, or eliminate the circulating bubbles directly.
Yuan
Jin-fu
JF
Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai, China. 918ybx@163.com
Ji
Zhong-yi
ZY
Lei
Cheng-xiang
CX
Wang
Ping
P
D000399:Air Pressure; D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000503:physiopathology; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011817:Rabbits