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DCI is commonly thought to be made up of Decompression Sickness (DCS) and Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE). DCS is usually results from bubbles causing damage to tissues, while AGE results from bubbles entering the blood vessels and causing tissue damage by blocking blood flow. DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS Also known as the Bends or Caisson Disease . See the main article: Decompression Sickness . Usually the result of inadequate decompression following exposure to increased pressure. The disease is usually mild and not an immediate threat. However, it must be noted that serious injury does occur. As a general rule, the sooner treatment is initiated, the better the chance for a full recovery. Mechanism of injury During a dive, the body tissues absorb nitrogen in proportion to the surrounding pressure. As long as the diver remains at pressure the excess nitrogen is exhaled by the lungs. However, if the body is subjected to a rapid loss of pressue (such as rapid ascent) the nitrogen will expand into bubbles and diffuse into the tissue and bloodstream before it has a chance to be exhaled by the lungs. Once there is an accumulation of sufficient nitrogen, bubbles will form as the pressure upon the nitrogen is decreased. If the bubbles form in or near joints, this will cause joint pains which contributed to the nickname of the "bends" . Bubbles may form in any part of the body, but form in different types of tissue at different concentrations. For example, fatty tissue absorbs nitrogen at a much faster rate than muscle or bone tissue, but that fatty tissue also off-gasses the nitrogen at a much faster rate. The different concentrations of nitrogen in the different tissues explain why symptoms may not occur until the diver has been on the surface for quite awhile. Numbness, paralysis and disorders of higher cerebral function may also occur as the bubble from the various tissues increase in size. Symptoms
Signs
Signs and Symptoms may appear immediately after surfacing but may take up to a day or two to appear. Delayed onset of Signs and Symptoms are rare but do happen. AGE Arterial Gas Embolism, usually the result of some injury to the lungs or air filled cavity causing air bubbles to ''leak'' into the bloodstream. See the main article: Arterial Gas Embolism . Mechanism of injury If a diver surfaces while holding his breath from the bottom, air trapped in the lungs expands with ascent due to the reduced pressure surrounding the lungs and may rupture lung tissue. This is Pulmonary Barotrauma which releases gas bubbles into the arterial circulation. This will cause the bubbles to be circulated through the body via the bloodstream. If the bubbles reaches the brain and cause damage to the brain, this tehn termed as CAGE (Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism). A person suffering from AGE ''may'' surface unconscious. This does not mean that any person who is conscious on surfacing is excluded from the possibilty of AGE. Symptoms
Signs
FIRST AID First Aid for DCI is administered by:
Details of recent dives and responses to first aid treatment should be recorded and provided to the treating medical specialist. The diving details should include depth and time profiles, Breathing Gas es used and surface intervals. The victim may be allowed to drink Water or Isotonic fluids only if they are responsive, stable, and not suffering from nausea or stomach pain. Administration of Saline via Intravenous Drip is preferable. Entonox should not be given. TREATMENT Very often Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in a Recompression Chamber in needed. With some types of Lung barotrauma, Surgery is required. REFERENCES
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