Encyclopedia

Decompression sickness


Decompression sickness is understood as a complex of pathological phenomena in the body associated with the presence of free gas bubbles in the blood and tissues, which cause irritation of the interoceptive apparatus of the nervous system, disruption of normal circulation, and sometimes direct mechanical damage to cells of organs and tissues. Decompression sickness occurs after prior saturation of the body with metabolically indifferent gas under increased pressure as a result of inadequate decompression and is a rather common specific disease among people performing work under conditions of increased pressure. The disease is called decompression sickness because it occurs during decompression, i.e., during the period when the body transitions from an environment with increased pressure to an environment with lower pressure.

Source: "HYDRO-MEDICAL AND SANITARY-HYGIENIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WORK CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYEES ENGAGED IN WORK UNDERWATER"

(approved by the Ministry of Health of Russia 14.11.2005, All-Russian Society for Water Rescue 15.11.2005)

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