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Hand discomfort following heliox chamber dives
Peter J Benton1, Gavin Anthony
1Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine
|October 15, 2003
Summary
Divers experienced unusual hand discomfort during heliox dives. Wearing dry gloves significantly reduced these helium-related symptoms, suggesting local tissue absorption as the cause.
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Hyperbaric Physiology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Compressed heliox (helium-oxygen) gas mixtures are used in saturation diving.
- Diving personnel can experience adverse effects from gas exposure.
- Hand discomfort during heliox dives was observed, atypical of decompression sickness.
Observation:
- Eight episodes of hand discomfort occurred in five attendants and one diver during dry chamber dives with compressed heliox.
- Hands were exposed to the heliox atmosphere during compression and decompression phases.
- Symptoms resolved within 48 hours and did not respond to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Findings:
- Initial cases involved exposed hands, with symptoms possibly due to helium absorption.
- Implementing dry glove assemblies significantly reduced the incidence of hand discomfort.
- The incidence of hand discomfort in attendants decreased from 25% to 2.4% after adopting dry gloves (p = 0.005).
Implications:
- Local tissue absorption of helium is a potential cause of hand discomfort in divers.
- Dry glove use is an effective preventive measure against helium-induced hand symptoms.
- Further research into helium's localized effects on tissues is warranted.