Utility of Doppler-detectable microbubbles in the diagnosis and treatment of decompression sickness

Abstract

Background: Doppler-detectable microbubbles (DMB) are frequently used to evaluate altitude decompression stress. However, the role of DMB in the therapy of decompression sickness (DCS) has not been examined.

Hypothesis: The ability of Doppler to detect microbubbles during decompression (Doppler test) may be used in the diagnosis of DCS, and to aid clinical decisions about treatment options for DCS.

Methods: We examined the data on DMB and symptoms from NASA Database on DCS (n = 516). The accuracy of Doppler test was obtained from the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) for DMB (grades I through IV), and efficacy was obtained by calculating predictive or post-test probabilities. Threshold analysis was used to obtain the probabilities for testing and/or treatment decisions.

Results: The Doppler test was useful for both screening and confirming DCS, when different criteria (grade I for screening; grade IV for confirming) were used for a positive test. Calculation of predictive values and threshold analysis showed that: 1) early recompression was the therapy of choice when post-test probability of disease was > 0.25 in individuals with non-specific pain at altitude, and early recompression with 100% oxygen for 2 h at site level was optimal therapy when this probability was > 0.33; 2) hyperbaric therapy was optimal when post-test probability was > 0.04 in individuals with uncertain symptoms post-flight.

Conclusions: The Doppler test was of greater utility in excluding DCS than confirming its presence, and was useful in making therapeutic decisions on DCS when confronted with non-specific symptoms at altitude.