2015, Volume 21, Issue 1

High Altitude Chamber Training for Military Flight Personnel – Altitude DCS Risk Assessment by Means of Echocardiographic Detection of Gas Bubbles

Andrzej JAROSZ¹, Tomasz AMELJAŃCZYK¹, Grzegorz KEMPA¹
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¹Department of Military Aviation Education and Training, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine


Autor korenspondencyjny: Andrzej JAROSZ; Department of Military Aviation Education and Training, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine; email: andrzejjarosz[at]aim.com

Full text

Streszczenie

Introduction:
The objective of the study consisted in the assessment of the risk of decompression sickness (DCS).
Methods:
The study was conducted in 45 healthy males aged 24-45 years. A total of 64 exposures to low pressure were performed in high altitude chambers.
Results:
No clinical symptoms of DCS were observed in either patient following high altitude exposure.
Discussion:
A 30-minute inhalation of 100% oxygen appears to provide sufficient prevention against clinical symptoms of DCS in high altitude training with the ceiling of 7500 m.a.s.l.
Conclusion:
Extension of saturation periods should be considered for exposures at the ceiling of 10000 m.a.s.l.

Słowa kluczowe

decompression sicknes, hypoxia, pilots