[abstract] GENDER EFFECT ON VENOUS BUBBLE FORMATION AFTER DECOMPRESSION FROM PROLONGED 16 FSWG EXPOSURES.

Abstract

The relative susceptibility of women to decompression sickness (DCS) is controversial. Since heterogeneity in susceptibility can result from factors resulting in bubble formation or from the subsequent physiologic response to bubbles, we Sought to evaluate the former using doppler ultrasound in 30 Women (aged 16-56) after decompression from 48 hour exposures to 16 fswg. Precordial and subclavian audio doPpler signals were taped and scored independently (K-M code) by 2 investigators. No symptoms consistent with DCS occurred. Precordial VGE were detected in 20 of the 30 Women. Subclavian monitoring increased the total number of female subjects with detectable VGE to 22. This VGE incidence is not significantly different from that observed in 54 men (same exposure) previously reported (Chi so. = 0.14). Further, no significant differences between the 30 Women and the 54 men were detected for duration of VGE (3.6±3.3 vs 3.8±4.3 hrs, resp.), latency (0.8±1.3 vs 0.5±0.6 hrs, resp.)or time to peak score (1.7±1.7 vs. 1.4±1.7 hrs, resp.). The female VGE Score distribution was similar to the males. No significant correlation of any VGE variables with body wt, ht or age were detected, although a positive trend with age was noted (with duration, P=0.06; with VGE Score, P=0.19). We conclude that Women generate VGE to the same degree as men after decompression from shallow steady-state exposures, which suggests that any gender-based differences in susceptibility occur subsequent to bubble formation in the pathogenesis of DCS. (Supported by NOAA).