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Treatment of type I decompression sickness using the U.S. Navy treatment algorithm
J W Green1, J Tichenor, M D Curley
1Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, Panama City, Florida 32407-5002.
Undersea Biomedical Research
|November 1, 1989
Summary
The U.S. Navy (USN) Diving Manual
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Decompression sickness (DCS) is a risk for divers.
- The U.S. Navy (USN) Diving Manual provides a treatment algorithm for DCS.
- Pain-only DCS is a common presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the USN Diving Manual treatment algorithm for pain-only DCS.
- To compare outcomes between USN Treatment Table 5 (TT-5) and USN Treatment Table 6 (TT-6).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 292 pain-only DCS cases from 1976-1986.
- Cases were treated using the USN treatment algorithm on either TT-5 or TT-6.
- Symptom recurrence rates were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Overall success rate for the USN treatment algorithm was 95.9%.
- Symptom recurrence was 4.3% after TT-5 and 3.6% after TT-6.
- No statistically significant difference in recurrence rates between TT-5 and TT-6.
Conclusions:
- The USN Diving Manual treatment algorithm is effective for pain-only DCS.
- The shorter TT-5 can be used effectively, supporting its use in accordance with the Navy treatment algorithm.