[Conception of a decompression table]

After a given time at bottom, different tissues become saturated to different extents with nitrogen. In diving back to the surface a hydrostatic decompression occurs first, followed by the desaturation process some time later. It is during this time interval that all important events are taking place, namely: either a monophasic desaturation, whereby inert nitrogen gas is given off at the alveolar capillary interface. or a biphasic desaturation takes place, giving rise to gas bubbles in the blood-stream as well as in the tissues. We may then encounter pathologies which are benign incidents or, worse, lead to decompression sickness grade II. Since Paul Bert dedicated his thoughts in 1878 to this problem, numerous authors tried to explain this time delay, for trying to suppress it would be entirely unrealistic. Unfortunately, mathematical reasoning has too often overshadowed physiological thinking in these matters. We also stuck to Haldane's concept of 1908, in incorporating Workman's improvements of 1965. This method is based on two main principles: 1. all calculations were done with several "tissues" in mind. Their anatomical boundaries are of no importance as, only their desaturation half-times are relevant. 2. a natural limit is given by the critical saturation-coefficient (CS). It expresses the ratio between the partial pressure of the dissolved gas and the reduction of hydrostatic pressure during ascent (given as pressure gradient). Through experience we were able to put up tables which were more and more safe, in examining foremost the CS ratio and the desaturation times of certain tissues. Several examples are given, the values of which are statistically highly significant, as they incorporate the results of more than 60,000 air dives.