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Decompression sickness

MedGen UID:
41434
•Concept ID:
C0011119
•
Disease or Syndrome
Synonyms: Bends; Caisson Disease; Caisson Diseases; Decompression Sickness; Disease, Caisson; Diseases, Caisson; Sickness, Decompression
SNOMED CT: Compressed air disease (48620000); Bends (89684003); Decompression sickness (89684003); Compressed-air disease (89684003); Caisson disease (89684003); The bends (89684003); Rapture of the deep syndrome (48620000)
 
Monarch Initiative: MONDO:0020797

Definition

A condition occurring as a result of exposure to a rapid fall in ambient pressure. Gases, nitrogen in particular, come out of solution and form bubbles in body fluid and blood. These gas bubbles accumulate in joint spaces and the peripheral circulation impairing tissue oxygenation causing disorientation, severe pain, and potentially death. [from MONDO]

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Response: Delayed treatment of decompression sickness.
Inman AL, Sorrell LP, Lagina AT
Undersea Hyperb Med 2021 Second Quarter;48(2):207-208. doi: 10.22462/03.04.2021.15. PMID: 33975415
Monoplace chamber treatment of decompression illness: Review and commentary.
Clarke R
Diving Hyperb Med 2020 Sep 30;50(3):264-272. doi: 10.28920/dhm50.3.264-272. PMID: 32957129Free PMC Article
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for decompression sickness.
Moon RE
Undersea Hyperb Med 2014 Mar-Apr;41(2):151-7. PMID: 24851553

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Patent foramen ovale.
Alakbarzade V, Keteepe-Arachi T, Karsan N, Ray R, Pereira AC
Pract Neurol 2020 May;20(3):225-233. Epub 2020 Apr 16 doi: 10.1136/practneurol-2019-002450. PMID: 32299831
In-water recompression.
Doolette DJ, Mitchell SJ
Diving Hyperb Med 2018 Jun 30;48(2):84-95. doi: 10.28920/dhm48.2.84-95. PMID: 29888380Free PMC Article
Decompression and decompression sickness.
Mahon RT, Regis DP
Compr Physiol 2014 Jul;4(3):1157-75. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c130039. PMID: 24944033
Diving medicine.
Bove AA
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014 Jun 15;189(12):1479-86. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201309-1662CI. PMID: 24869752
Decompression illness.
Vann RD, Butler FK, Mitchell SJ, Moon RE
Lancet 2011 Jan 8;377(9760):153-64. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61085-9. PMID: 21215883

Diagnosis

Diving Headache.
Burkett JG, Nahas SJ
Curr Pain Headache Rep 2019 May 30;23(7):46. doi: 10.1007/s11916-019-0787-8. PMID: 31147799
Updates in Decompression Illness.
Pollock NW, Buteau D
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2017 May;35(2):301-319. Epub 2017 Mar 15 doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.002. PMID: 28411929
Diving medicine.
Bove AA
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2014 Jun 15;189(12):1479-86. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201309-1662CI. PMID: 24869752
Neurology and diving.
Massey EW, Moon RE
Handb Clin Neurol 2014;120:959-69. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-4087-0.00063-2. PMID: 24365363
Decompression illness.
Vann RD, Butler FK, Mitchell SJ, Moon RE
Lancet 2011 Jan 8;377(9760):153-64. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61085-9. PMID: 21215883

Therapy

Updates in Decompression Illness.
Pollock NW, Buteau D
Emerg Med Clin North Am 2017 May;35(2):301-319. Epub 2017 Mar 15 doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2016.12.002. PMID: 28411929
Decompression and decompression sickness.
Mahon RT, Regis DP
Compr Physiol 2014 Jul;4(3):1157-75. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c130039. PMID: 24944033
Neurology and diving.
Massey EW, Moon RE
Handb Clin Neurol 2014;120:959-69. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-4087-0.00063-2. PMID: 24365363
Decompression illness.
Vann RD, Butler FK, Mitchell SJ, Moon RE
Lancet 2011 Jan 8;377(9760):153-64. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61085-9. PMID: 21215883
Headache in divers.
Cheshire WP Jr, Ott MC
Headache 2001 Mar;41(3):235-47. doi: 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2001.111006235.x. PMID: 11264683

Prognosis

Decompression illness: a comprehensive overview.
Mitchell SJ
Diving Hyperb Med 2024 Mar 31;54(1Suppl):1-53. doi: 10.28920/dhm54.1.suppl.1-53. PMID: 38537300Free PMC Article
Iatrogenic air embolism: pathoanatomy, thromboinflammation, endotheliopathy, and therapies.
Marsh PL, Moore EE, Moore HB, Bunch CM, Aboukhaled M, Condon SM 2nd, Al-Fadhl MD, Thomas SJ, Larson JR, Bower CW, Miller CB, Pearson ML, Twilling CL, Reser DW, Kim GS, Troyer BM, Yeager D, Thomas SG, Srikureja DP, Patel SS, Añón SL, Thomas AV, Miller JB, Van Ryn DE, Pamulapati SV, Zimmerman D, Wells B, Martin PL, Seder CW, Aversa JG, Greene RB, March RJ, Kwaan HC, Fulkerson DH, Vande Lune SA, Mollnes TE, Nielsen EW, Storm BS, Walsh MM
Front Immunol 2023;14:1230049. Epub 2023 Sep 19 doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1230049. PMID: 37795086Free PMC Article
Metabolic and Toxic Myelopathies.
Slama MCC, Berkowitz AL
Semin Neurol 2021 Jun;41(3):309-326. Epub 2021 May 19 doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1725150. PMID: 34010972
Decompression models: review, relevance and validation capabilities.
Hugon J
Undersea Hyperb Med 2014 Nov-Dec;41(6):531-56. PMID: 25562945
Neurologic complications of scuba diving.
Newton HB
Am Fam Physician 2001 Jun 1;63(11):2211-8. PMID: 11417773

Clinical prediction guides

The Laryngologist Who Saved the Brooklyn Bridge.
Isaacson G
Laryngoscope 2024 Jul;134(7):3044-3048. Epub 2024 Jan 29 doi: 10.1002/lary.31306. PMID: 38284795
Patent Foramen Ovale Closure and Decompression Sickness Among Divers.
Abdelfattah OM, Sayed A, Elgendy IY, Munir M, Saleh Y, Kapadia SR, Abela GS, Jneid H
Cardiovasc Revasc Med 2022 Jul;40:160-162. Epub 2021 Nov 20 doi: 10.1016/j.carrev.2021.11.017. PMID: 34810112
Ultrasound in decompression research: fundamentals, considerations, and future technologies.
Le DQ, Dayton PA, Tillmans F, Freiberger JJ, Moon RE, Denoble P, Papadopoulou V
Undersea Hyperb Med 2021 First Quarter;48(1):59-72. doi: 10.22462/01.03.2021.8. PMID: 33648035
Decompression sickness, fatness and active hydrophobic spots.
van Ooij PJA
Diving Hyperb Med 2018 Sep 30;48(3):130-131. doi: 10.28920/dhm48.3.130-131. PMID: 30199886Free PMC Article
Decompression and decompression sickness.
Mahon RT, Regis DP
Compr Physiol 2014 Jul;4(3):1157-75. doi: 10.1002/cphy.c130039. PMID: 24944033

Recent systematic reviews

Inner ear barotrauma and inner ear decompression sickness: a systematic review on differential diagnostics.
Lindfors OH, Räisänen-Sokolowski AK, Hirvonen TP, Sinkkonen ST
Diving Hyperb Med 2021 Dec 20;51(4):328-337. doi: 10.28920/dhm51.4.328-337. PMID: 34897597Free PMC Article
Acclimatization to diving: a systematic review.
Risberg J
Undersea Hyperb Med 2021 Second Quarter;48(2):127-147. doi: 10.22462/03.04.2021.3. PMID: 33975403
Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Pulmonary Concerns in Remote Spaceflight Triage Environments.
Johansen BD, Blue RS, Castleberry TL, Antonsen EL, Vanderploeg JM
Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2018 Feb 1;89(2):122-129. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.4808.2018. PMID: 29463357
Scuba diving and otology: a systematic review with recommendations on diagnosis, treatment and post-operative care.
Livingstone DM, Smith KA, Lange B
Diving Hyperb Med 2017 Jun;47(2):97-109. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.2.97-109. PMID: 28641322Free PMC Article
Tenth European Consensus Conference on Hyperbaric Medicine: recommendations for accepted and non-accepted clinical indications and practice of hyperbaric oxygen treatment.
Mathieu D, Marroni A, Kot J
Diving Hyperb Med 2017 Mar;47(1):24-32. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.1.24-32. PMID: 28357821Free PMC Article

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