title: Decompression illness in goats following simulated submarine escape: 1993-2006.
abstract: The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence commissioned work to define the relationship between the internal pressure of a distressed submarine (DISSUB), the depth from which escape is made and the risk of decompression illness (DCI). The program of work used an animal model (goat) to define these risks and this paper reports the incidence and type of DCI observed. A total of 748 pressure exposures comprising saturation only, escape only or saturation followed by escape were conducted in the submarine escape simulator between 1993 and 2006. The DCI following saturation exposures was predominantly limb pain, whereas following escape exposures the DCI predominantly involved the central nervous system and was fast in onset. There was no strong relationship between the risk of DCI and the range of escape depths investigated. The risk of DCI incurred from escape following saturation was greater than that obtained by combining the risks for the independent saturation only, and escape only, exposures. The output from this program of work has led to improved advice on the safety of submarine escape.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Seddon
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Thacker
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Jurd
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: G A M
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Loveman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003664:Decompression / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D006610:High Pressure Neurological Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D010100:Oxygen; D010313:Partial Pressure; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013366:Submarine Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen