Decompression Illness

Decompression Illness

Decompression Illness (DCI) describes a collection of symptoms arising from decompression of the body.

DCI is caused by two different mechanisms, which result in overlapping sets of symptoms. The two mechanisms are:

• Decompression sickness (DCS), which results from gas dissolved in body tissue under pressure precipitating out of solution and forming bubbles on decompression. It typically afflicts scuba divers on poorly managed ascent from depth or aviators flying in inadequately pressurised aircraft.
• Arterial gas embolism (AGE), which is gas bubbles in the bloodstream. In the context of DCI these may form either as a result of precipitation of dissolved gas into the blood on depressurisation, as for DCS above, or by gas entering the blood mechanically as a result of pulmonary barotrauma. Pulmonary barotrauma is a rupturing of the lungs by internal over-pressurisation caused by the expansion of air held in the lungs on depressurisation such as: a scuba diver ascending while holding the breath or; the explosive decompression of an aircraft cabin or other working environment.