Decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism in sports scuba divers

Abstract

Diving underwater with breathing apparatus is an increasingly popular sport. Consequently, the number of diving-related accidents, including both decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, have increased. Though both involve bubbles, decompression sickness is a disease which involves gas bubbles forming in tissues and venous blood, while arterial gas embolism results from the introduction of gas bubbles directly into the arterial circulation. Although the pathologies and natural histories of decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism are different, the treatment of these conditions is essentially the same. Compression in a recompression chamber is the definitive treatment of both decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, and any delay before treatment must be minimised if a good outcome is desired.