[Analysis of evolution of the size of decompression gas bubbles in diver tissues during schedules of medical recompression]

Abstract

The mathematical model of gas bubble dynamics in body tissues was used for the analysis of evolution of their size during the treatment of decompression sickness in divers by means of recompression in accordance with RN table 72 and USN table 6A. It was shown that the duration of the process of bubble dissolution depends on the compression - decompression profile, as well on the initial size of a bubble, the oxygen content in the breathing mixture and the rate of nitrogen diffusion between a bubble and the surrounding tissue. The results of this study give the grounds to assume that the effect of recompression regimes used in the UK, USA and Russia promotes the treatment of DCS as a result of complete dissolution or significant reduction in the bubble sizes as well as due to therapeutic action of moderately hyperoxic breathing mixture on the tissues affected by bubbles.