Decompression sickness and venous gas emboli at 8.3 psiaThis study sought to determine the bends risk on decompression from sea level to 8.3 psia. On the basis of several prior studies by NASA and the Air Force, this differential was expected to result in a minimal (about 5 percent) incidence of mild decompression sickness, and may be the pressure of choice for the next-generation NASA extravehicular activity (EVA) pressure suit. Thirty-one volunteer subjects, performing light work characteristic of EVA, were exposed to 8.3 psia pressure altitude for six hours. Limb bends incidence was 3.2 percent, and 25.8 percent of the subjects demonstrated significant intravascular bubbling. Those who bubbled were significantly older than the bubble-free group, but differed in no other aspect. An 8.3 psia advanced pressure suit design was considered insufficient to totally preclude the risk of decompression sickness.
Document ID
19880026174
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Smead, Kenneth W. (School of Aerospace Medicine Brooks AFB, TX, United States)
Dixon, Gene A. (School of Aerospace Medicine Brooks AFB, TX, United States)
Webb, James T. (USAF, School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB TX, United States)
Krutz, Robert W., Jr. (Technology, Inc. Life Sciences Div., San Antonio, TX, United States)