engleski

Exogenous nitric oxide reduces bubble formation in man

Prevention of bubble formation is a central goal in standard decompression procedures. Following the dive gas bubbles in the pulmonary artery were recorded using ultrasound. This study was designed to determine whether a short-lasting NO-donor, Nitroglycerine, is reducing bubble formation after standard dives and decompression in man. A total of 16 Navy divers were randomly assigned into two groups. One group (N=10) performed two dives to 30 msw for 30 minutes breathing air, and performed exercise at an intensity corresponding to 30% of maximal oxygen uptake during the bottom time. The second group (N=6) performed two simulated dives to 18 msw for 80 minutes breathing air in a hyperbaric chamber, and remained sedentary during the bottom period. The first dive for each diver served as the control dive, whereas the divers received 0.4 mg Nitroglycerine by oral spray 30 minutes before the second dive. The open water dive resulted in significantly more gas bubbles than the dry dive. Nitroglycerine reduced bubble formation significantly in both dives. The present study demonstrated that intake of a short-lasting NO-donor reduced bubble formation following decompression after dives of different duration and to different depths in man.

decompression sickness; NO; diving; man; hyperbaric chamber

nije evidentirano