[High density respiratory syndrome: I. Oscillations of flow-volume curves during forced respiration in dense gas media]

Abstract

33 divers exposed to high pressure have been examined in three series. The dynamics of the forced breathing parameters has been studied: I--helio or neon-oxygen medium under pressure of 1.078-3.53 MPa (11-36 kg/m2) with density to 32.7 kg/m3; II--nitrogen-oxygen medium under 0.274-0.882 MPa (2.8-9.0 kg/m2) with density of 11.7 kg/m3; III--under the same conditions, as II, but using bronchospasmolytics (stimulators of 2-adrenoreceptors: astompent, salbutamol, berotec) under hyperbaria. A new phenomenon: high-density breathing syndrome is revealed. It includes appearance of oscillations of respiratory flows against the background of a decrease of forced breathing rate in dense gas medium and has a common mechanism of appearance both during inhale and exhale. High hydrostatic pressure and narcotic qualities of inert gases can have a modulating effect. Evidences are obtained that tremor phenomena observed during high pressure nervous syndrome can influence the biomechanics of forced breathing at hyperbaria. A high correlation between amplitude modulation of electromyograms of breathing muscles and pneumotachogram oscillations within the range, corresponding to the frequency of physiological tremor, allowed assuming that tremor of breathing muscles induced by high-density gas medium action is one of factors responsible for appearance of respiratory flows oscillations.