Undersea Hyperbar M
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Undersea Hyperbar M · Mar 1996
Reduction of decompression illness risk in pigs by use of non-linear ascent profiles.
An established swine model of neurologic decompression illness (DCI) was adapted to investigate the influence of no-stop ascent profile shape on DCI risk after deep air and heliox dives. Pigs underwent a simulated air dive in a dry chamber to 200 fsw (613 kPa) for 24 min bottom time. They were then decompressed at either a linear rate of 20 fsw/min (61 kPa/min) or on a non-linear, fast-deep/slow-shallow profile. ⋯ Moderate or severe skin DCI affected 16/20 of the linear group compared to 3/20 of the fast/slow group (P = 0.0002). The study findings suggest that substantial reductions in DCI risk may be obtainable by manipulating the ascent profile after deep no-stop diving. This finding has potential application in both military and civil diving operations.