Aviat Space Envir Md
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Gas bubbles are the primary agent in producing the pathogenic effects of decompression sickness. Bubble formation during decompression is not simply the consequence of inert gas supersaturation. Numerous experiments indicate that bubbles originate as pre-existing gas nuclei. ⋯ Moreover, while surfactants seem present in numerous tissues and could play a role in gas nuclei stabilization, they could also be involved in bubble elimination. The understanding of such mechanisms is of primary importance to neutralize nuclei and for modeling bubble growth. Here we present in a single document a summary of the original findings and views from authors in this field.