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Venous gas embolism in chamber attendants after hyperbaric exposure

Risberg, J ; Englund, Martin LU orcid ; Aanderud, L ; Eftedal, O ; Flook, V and Thorsen, E (2004) In Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine 31(4). p.417-429
Abstract
An initial occupational survey (OS) was initiated to investigate the prevalence of venous gas embolism (VGE) in chamber attendants assisting hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatments. Nine female subjects were exposed for three consecutive days to the routine hospital procedure of compressed air exposure to 240 kPa for approximately 115 min with 12 min of terminal oxygen (O2) breathing. VGE was monitored with ultrasound Doppler in 15 min intervals for 2h after the first and third exposure. A follow-up experimental study was completed to investigate whether changed breathing gases and decompression would affect the high incidence of VGE observed in the OS. Ten female subjects were randomly exposed to the routine or revised profile (12 and 24 min... (More)
An initial occupational survey (OS) was initiated to investigate the prevalence of venous gas embolism (VGE) in chamber attendants assisting hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatments. Nine female subjects were exposed for three consecutive days to the routine hospital procedure of compressed air exposure to 240 kPa for approximately 115 min with 12 min of terminal oxygen (O2) breathing. VGE was monitored with ultrasound Doppler in 15 min intervals for 2h after the first and third exposure. A follow-up experimental study was completed to investigate whether changed breathing gases and decompression would affect the high incidence of VGE observed in the OS. Ten female subjects were randomly exposed to the routine or revised profile (12 and 24 min of terminal O2 breathing respectively), and a Nitrox profile (breathing gas 40.5% O2 in Nitrogen during 90 min of the isobaric phase). VGE was monitored with transthoracic ultrasound scanner and Doppler. In the OS precordial VGE grade III (Doppler) was observed in five subjects, but median resting precordial VGE was Grade 0 both days and VGE score at all sites were equal Days 1 and 3. In the experimental study, median resting precordial VGE was Grade 0 (Doppler) and Grade 1 (Scanner). VGE Grade III (Doppler) was observed in all series, but VGE scores were not significantly different between the series. We conclude that chamber attendants assisting HBO2 treatment at 240 kPa for approximately 115 min are exposed to a significant decompression stress using the profiles tested in the present study. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine
volume
31
issue
4
pages
417 - 429
publisher
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society
external identifiers
  • pmid:15686273
  • scopus:12344293909
ISSN
1066-2936
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e99db573-1152-471a-8e6b-57c4d57bfe50 (old id 1130086)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:42:31
date last changed
2022-01-28 06:43:53
@article{e99db573-1152-471a-8e6b-57c4d57bfe50,
  abstract     = {{An initial occupational survey (OS) was initiated to investigate the prevalence of venous gas embolism (VGE) in chamber attendants assisting hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatments. Nine female subjects were exposed for three consecutive days to the routine hospital procedure of compressed air exposure to 240 kPa for approximately 115 min with 12 min of terminal oxygen (O2) breathing. VGE was monitored with ultrasound Doppler in 15 min intervals for 2h after the first and third exposure. A follow-up experimental study was completed to investigate whether changed breathing gases and decompression would affect the high incidence of VGE observed in the OS. Ten female subjects were randomly exposed to the routine or revised profile (12 and 24 min of terminal O2 breathing respectively), and a Nitrox profile (breathing gas 40.5% O2 in Nitrogen during 90 min of the isobaric phase). VGE was monitored with transthoracic ultrasound scanner and Doppler. In the OS precordial VGE grade III (Doppler) was observed in five subjects, but median resting precordial VGE was Grade 0 both days and VGE score at all sites were equal Days 1 and 3. In the experimental study, median resting precordial VGE was Grade 0 (Doppler) and Grade 1 (Scanner). VGE Grade III (Doppler) was observed in all series, but VGE scores were not significantly different between the series. We conclude that chamber attendants assisting HBO2 treatment at 240 kPa for approximately 115 min are exposed to a significant decompression stress using the profiles tested in the present study.}},
  author       = {{Risberg, J and Englund, Martin and Aanderud, L and Eftedal, O and Flook, V and Thorsen, E}},
  issn         = {{1066-2936}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{417--429}},
  publisher    = {{Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society}},
  series       = {{Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine}},
  title        = {{Venous gas embolism in chamber attendants after hyperbaric exposure}},
  volume       = {{31}},
  year         = {{2004}},
}