Blood-Bubble Interaction in Decompression Sickness.

Abstract

Contents: Historical evolution of the blood-bubble interaction hypothesis in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness; The physiology of blood platelets; Biochemical indicators of decompression sickness; Blood and air; Current research into the normal drive; The ultrastructure of the blood-bubble interface and related alterations in the blood and vessel walls in the air embolism; The bubble as a non-mechanical trigger in decompression sickness; Clinical problems of decompression sickness relevant to the surface activity of intravascular bubbles; Humoral factors in the pathogenesis of decompression sickness; Experimental evidence in support of the hypothesis that intravascular bubbles activate the hemostatic process; Effects of orally-administered pyrimido-pyrimidine derivatives platelet functions in human subjects decompressed from a hyperbaric environment; Pathophysiology and treatment of dysbaric accidents and of air decompression sickness; The role of gas embolism is decompression sickness; Physical and biologic sequelae of blood-gas interfacial reaction; Basic mechanisms in thrombosis, including disseminated intravascular thrombosis; Evaluation of clotting factors during hyperbaric exposure; Comparison of hemotologic data in tunnel workers working in free air, at 38 pounds and those suffering from decompression sickness; Possible effects of bubble-induced coagulation following decompression; and The pathophysiology of diving induced sensory neural deafness as elucidated by beneficial prophylactic use of heparin.