Human tecg changes during prolonged hyperbaric exposures breathing N2-O2 mixtures. 1977

J M Wilson, and P D Kligfield, and G M Adams, and C Harvey, and K E Schaefer

In an effort to determine whether hyperbaric exposures while breathing N2-O2 mixtures have an effect on cardiac depolarization and repolarization, electrocardiograms of 10 divers participating in four N2-O2 saturation dives were analyzed. In all cases, a decline in heart rate was observed upon compression to saturation depth (20-30%); a slow adaptation and return of heart rate toward normal was observed in those dives where the depth and environmental parameters remained constant. twhenever excursion dives were performed, the heart rate responded by decreasing on deeper excursions and increasing on upward excursions. Hyperbaric bradycardia disappeared after 8 days at pressure during the saturation dives at 50 and 60 feet seawater gauge (fswg), but was still present at this time at 200 fswg. The magnitude of the hyperbaric bradycardia produced by excursion dives following saturation at depth was influenced by the state of adaptation of heart rate. Decompression was uniformly accompanied by a rapid increase in heart rate resulting in a significant elevation in the postdive period. Alterations in myocardial repolarization as evidenced by Q-T interval, ST, and T wave changes were observed. Development of slight right ventricular conduction delay compatible with right ventricular strain was noted in four of the divers during the two deepest dives to 100 and 198 fswg. During the latter dive, progressive decrease in P wave amplitudes and eventual loss of P waves resulting in an apparent nodal rhythm was observed in one diver. Multiple premature ventricular contractions occurred in another diver. These observations, along with the reports by other authors, suggest that the different variables associated with the hyperbaric environment--gas density, pressure, inert gas--have a definite effect on the pacemaker activity of the heart and myocardial depolarization and repolarization.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009584 Nitrogen An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D010100 Oxygen An element with atomic symbol O, atomic number 8, and atomic weight [15.99903; 15.99977]. It is the most abundant element on earth and essential for respiration. Dioxygen,Oxygen-16,Oxygen 16
D004242 Diving An activity in which the organism plunges into water. It includes scuba and bell diving. Diving as natural behavior of animals goes here, as well as diving in decompression experiments with humans or animals. Divings
D004562 Electrocardiography Recording of the moment-to-moment electromotive forces of the HEART as projected onto various sites on the body's surface, delineated as a scalar function of time. The recording is monitored by a tracing on slow moving chart paper or by observing it on a cardioscope, which is a CATHODE RAY TUBE DISPLAY. 12-Lead ECG,12-Lead EKG,12-Lead Electrocardiography,Cardiography,ECG,EKG,Electrocardiogram,Electrocardiograph,12 Lead ECG,12 Lead EKG,12 Lead Electrocardiography,12-Lead ECGs,12-Lead EKGs,12-Lead Electrocardiographies,Cardiographies,ECG, 12-Lead,EKG, 12-Lead,Electrocardiograms,Electrocardiographies, 12-Lead,Electrocardiographs,Electrocardiography, 12-Lead
D006321 Heart The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood. Hearts
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000222 Adaptation, Physiological The non-genetic biological changes of an organism in response to challenges in its ENVIRONMENT. Adaptation, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiologic,Adaptations, Physiological,Adaptive Plasticity,Phenotypic Plasticity,Physiological Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptation,Physiologic Adaptations,Physiological Adaptations,Plasticity, Adaptive,Plasticity, Phenotypic
D001274 Atmospheric Pressure The pressure at any point in an atmosphere due solely to the weight of the atmospheric gases above the point concerned. Atmospheric Pressures,Pressure, Atmospheric,Pressures, Atmospheric
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor

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