[A study on etiology and pathogenic mechanism of decompression sickness]

To explain the etiology of decompression sickness (DCS) and to elucidate its pathogenic mechanism.

Tunica conjunctiva was examined by microscopy and blood pressure was measured at the exposed femoral arteries in inadequately decompressed animals after hyperbaric exposure. Then pathological examinations were done.

Animals with vascular spasm and dysfunction after decompression showed DCS symptoms. Severe DCS was found in the period of increasing of blood pressure swelling. Appeared in endothelial cells, fracted, hemorrhages were also formed in the body of DCS animals.

DCS is a disease with vascular spasm and dysfunction caused by decompression. It's resulted from anoxia or pathological change caused by vascular spasm, dysfunction or even failure of blood vessels due to the gas tension (etiology) provoked by supersaturated gas in the blood during descending of ambient pressure. Vascular spasm and dysfunction impede the elimination of gas from the blood, and once the gas amount is sufficient to cause severe ischemia of the circulation system, the state of disease would be severe.