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The incidence of decompression sickness is rare, estimated at 2.8 to 4 cases per 10,000 dives, [75] with the risk 2.6 times greater for males than females. [5] DCS affects approximately 1,000 U.S. scuba divers per year. [ 76 ]
[6] [54] There is a definite relationship between length of time exposed to extreme depths and the percentage of divers with bone lesions. [2] [55] Evidence does not suggest that dysbaric osteonecrosis is a significant risk in recreational scuba diving. [53]
Decompression sickness is usually avoidable by following the requirements of decompression tables or algorithms regarding ascent rates and stop times for the specific dive profile, but these do not guarantee safety, and in some cases, unpredictably, there will be decompression sickness.
A bubble was observed in its eye and it displayed signs of extreme discomfort. This was the first recorded description of decompression sickness. [2] 1841 – Jacques Triger documented the first cases of decompression sickness in humans when two miners involved in pressurised caisson work developed symptoms. [2]
The principal conditions are decompression illness (which covers decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism), nitrogen narcosis, high pressure nervous syndrome, oxygen toxicity, and pulmonary barotrauma (burst lung). Although some of these may occur in other settings, they are of particular concern during diving activities. [1]
Hypoesthesia results because of air bubbles that form in blood, which prevents oxygenation of downstream tissue. [2] In cases of decompression sickness, treatment to relieve hypoesthesia symptoms is quick and efficient. Hyperbaric oxygen is used to maintain long term stability, which includes breathing of oxygen at a level of 100%. [2]
This can lead to bubble formation and growth, with decompression sickness as a consequence. Partial pressure of oxygen is usually limited to 1.6 bar during in-water decompression for scuba divers, but can be up to 1.9 bar in-water and 2.2 bar in the chamber when using the US Navy tables for surface decompression. [93]
[2] [9] Two out of eight Swiss military divers suffered decompression sickness following dives 1800 meters above sea level in Lake Silvaplana. [2] Bühlmann recognized the problems associated with altitude diving, [13] [14] [15] and proposed a method which calculated maximum nitrogen loading in the tissues at a particular ambient pressure.