Elimination of CT-detected gas bubbles derived from decompression illness with abdominal symptoms after a short hyperbaric oxygen treatment in a monoplace chamber: a case report. 2017

Takuya Oyaizu, and Mitsuhiro Enomoto, and Toshihide Tsujimoto, and Yasushi Kojima, and Atsushi Okawa, and Kazuyoshi Yagishita
Hyperbaric Medical Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan.

We report the case of a 54-year-old male compressed-air worker with gas bubbles detected by computed tomography (CT). He had complained of strong abdominal pain 30 minutes after decompression after working at a pressure equivalent to 17 meters of sea water for three hours. The initial CT images revealed gas bubbles in the intrahepatic portal vein, pulmonary artery and bilateral femoral vein. After the first hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBO₂ at 2.5 atmospheres absolute/ATA for 150 minutes), no bubbles were detected on repeat CT examination. The patient still exhibited abdominal distension, mild hypesthesia and slight muscle weakness in the upper extremities. Two sessions of U.S. Navy Treatment Table 6 (TT6) were performed on Days 6 and 7 after onset. The patient recovered completely on Day 7. This report describes the important role of CT imaging in evaluating intravascular gas bubbles as well as eliminating the diagnosis of other conditions when divers or compressed-air workers experience uncommon symptoms of decompression illness. In addition, a short treatment table of HBO₂ using non-TT6 HBO₂ treatment may be useful to reduce gas bubbles and the severity of decompression illness in emergent cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009784 Occupational Diseases Diseases caused by factors involved in one's employment. Diseases, Occupational,Occupational Illnesses,Disease, Occupational,Illnesse, Occupational,Illnesses, Occupational,Occupational Disease,Occupational Illnesse
D011169 Portal Vein A short thick vein formed by union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein. Portal Veins,Vein, Portal,Veins, Portal
D011651 Pulmonary Artery The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs. Arteries, Pulmonary,Artery, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Arteries
D003665 Decompression Sickness A condition occurring as a result of exposure to a rapid fall in ambient pressure. Gases, nitrogen in particular, come out of solution and form bubbles in body fluid and blood. These gas bubbles accumulate in joint spaces and the peripheral circulation impairing tissue oxygenation causing disorientation, severe pain, and potentially death. Bends,Caisson Disease,Caisson Diseases,Disease, Caisson,Diseases, Caisson,Sickness, Decompression
D004618 Embolism, Air Blocking of a blood vessel by air bubbles that enter the circulatory system, usually after TRAUMA; surgical procedures, or changes in atmospheric pressure. Air Embolism,Embolism, Gas,Air Embolisms,Embolisms, Air,Embolisms, Gas,Gas Embolism,Gas Embolisms
D005268 Femoral Vein The vein accompanying the femoral artery in the same sheath; it is a continuation of the popliteal vein and becomes the external iliac vein. Femoral Veins,Vein, Femoral,Veins, Femoral
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006931 Hyperbaric Oxygenation The therapeutic intermittent administration of oxygen in a chamber at greater than sea-level atmospheric pressures (three atmospheres). It is considered effective treatment for air and gas embolisms, smoke inhalation, acute carbon monoxide poisoning, caisson disease, clostridial gangrene, etc. (From Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992). The list of treatment modalities includes stroke. Oxygenation, Hyperbaric,Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy,Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapies,Hyperbaric Oxygenations,Oxygen Therapies, Hyperbaric,Oxygen Therapy, Hyperbaric,Oxygenations, Hyperbaric,Therapies, Hyperbaric Oxygen,Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen

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