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Ethanol treatment for acute decompression sickness in rabbits
Undersea Biomedical Research
|July 1, 1989
Summary
Ethanol administration significantly improved survival rates in rabbits experiencing decompression sickness. Treated rabbits showed no bubbles and recovered platelet counts, unlike untreated controls.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
Background:
- Decompression sickness (DCS) is a serious risk in diving and hyperbaric exposures.
- Rapid decompression can lead to bubble formation and significant physiological distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of intravenous ethanol in mitigating acute decompression sickness in rabbits.
- To assess the impact of ethanol on bubble formation and platelet aggregation post-decompression.
Main Methods:
- Rabbits were exposed to 6 ATA for 30 minutes, followed by rapid decompression to 1 ATA.
- One group received intravenous 25% ethanol upon surfacing; a control group did not.
- Autopsies and platelet counts were performed at various time points post-decompression.
Main Results:
- Ethanol treatment resulted in 100% survival, compared to 50% mortality in the control group.
- No bubbles were observed in ethanol-treated rabbits during autopsy.
- Platelet counts normalized within 24 hours in ethanol-treated rabbits, while remaining low in controls.
Conclusions:
- Intravenous ethanol is a potentially life-saving treatment for acute decompression sickness.
- Ethanol appears to prevent bubble formation and aid in the recovery of platelet function after decompression stress.
