USAF treatment table 8: treatment for altitude decompression sickness

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Medicine
• Hyperbaric Medicine
• Physiology

Background:

• Altitude decompression sickness (DCS) treatment traditionally follows diving protocols.
• Expanding space operations and military aviation necessitate re-evaluating DCS treatment paradigms.
• Investigating reduced oxygen and pressure resources for effective DCS treatment in austere settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel treatment protocol, USAF Treatment Table 8 (TT8), for altitude decompression sickness.
• To assess if TT8 can provide effective DCS treatment with potentially reduced resources.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 12 patients treated between 1985 and 1989.
• USAF Treatment Table 8 (TT8) protocol: 100% oxygen at 2 ATA for four 30-min periods with 10-min air breaks (2 hours total oxygen).

Main Results:

• 91% success rate in 11 treatments for Type I altitude DCS (1 recurrence).
• 50% success rate in 2 treatments for Type II altitude DCS (1 failure with incomplete symptom resolution).

Conclusions:

• USAF Treatment Table 8 (TT8) demonstrates viability as a new protocol for altitude DCS.
• The observed successes warrant further, more extensive clinical trials for TT8.
• Potential for a more resource-efficient approach to altitude DCS management.