Nitrogen-oxygen saturation therapy in serious cases of compressed-air decompression sickness

Decompression sickness and arterial air embolism which follow exposure to raised environmental pressures of compressed air are usually adequately treated by accepted recompression procedures of relatively short durations. With serious cases, however, conventional treatment may not allow sufficient time at depth for the complete resolution of manifestations because of the need to avoid pulmonary oxygen toxicity which is associated with a prolonged period of breathing compressed air. Treatment by nitrogen-oxygen saturation at a pressure equivalent of 30 m (100 ft) sea water is proposed. Based upon the success of three refractory cases treated by this procedure, recommendation are made for the conversion of standard compressed-air chambers into an emergency saturation mode for therapy.