The Effect on the Chimpanzee of Rapid Decompression to a Near Vacuum 6571st Aeromedical Research Laboratory Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico Eight chimpanzees, used in nine separate tests, were decompressed from 179 mm Hg (100 per cent oxygen) to less than 2 mm Hg in 0.8 seconds and remained at this altitude from 5 to 150 seconds. After recompression to 179 mm Hg (again breathing 100 per cen...

The study goal was to use membrane voltage changes during neurohypophysial action potential (AP) propagation as an index of nerve function to evaluate the role that circulating microparticles (MPs) play in causing central nervous system injury in response to decompression stress in a murine model. Mice studied 1 h following decompression from 790 kPa air pressure for 2 h exhibit a 45% broadenin...

BACKGROUND High quality chest compression is one of the key factors in successful resuscitation. A high standard of training is therefore decisive. We aimed to investigate the strengths and weaknesses of teaching chest compression in a study designed to highlight where targeted improvements in the quality of our chest compression training can and must be made. METHODS Retrospective analysis o...

Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy of the posterior tibial nerve and its branches in the tarsal tunnel. We present our less invasive surgical treatment of TTS in 69 patients (116 feet) and their clinical outcomes. The mean follow-up period was 64.6 months. With the patient under local anesthesia we use a microscope to perform sharp dissection of the flexor retinaculum and ...

Acclimatization to decompression stress has been reported in caisson workers and helium-oxygen divers; however the alternative notion that the risk of decompression sickness increases with successive days of diving is widespread. We examined 201 multi-day series of 2 to 29 diving days identified retrospectively in a database of occupational air dives for evidence of acclimatization or sensitiza...

OBJECTIVE This study analyzed retrospectively the bladder function of patients after early surgery for cauda equina syndrome (CES) performed within 24 or 48 hours, or after 48 hours of the onset of autonomic symptoms. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 31 patients after decompression surgery for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) who had been diagnosed with CES between January...

Although differences exist, hypobaric and hyperbaric exposures share common physiological, biochemical, and clinical features, and their comparison may provide further insight into the mechanisms of decompression stress. Although altitude decompression illness (DCI) has been experienced by high-altitude Air Force pilots and is common in ground-based experiments simulating decompression profiles...

Effects of pressure reduction, decompression rate, and repeated exposure on venous gas bubble formation were determined in five groups (GI, GII, GIII, GIV, and GV) of conscious and freely moving rats in a heliox atmosphere. Bubbles were recorded with a Doppler ultrasound probe implanted around the inferior caval vein. Rats were held for 16 h at 0.4 MPa (GI), 0.5 MPa (GII and GIII), 1.7 MPa (GIV...

BACKGROUND Complications of nonunited Type II odontoid fractures can range from neck pain to progressive neurological deficit from cervical myelopathy. Rarely, the hypertrophic nonunion requires both anterior transoral decompression and posterior decompression with instrumented fusion. We present a case and review literature around this entity. CASE DESCRIPTION A 68-year-old female presented ...

PURPOSE Major gastric distension in the left hemithorax can threaten life in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) presenting after the neonatal period. After presentation of two pediatric cases, guidelines for the optimal care of these patients are given. CLINICAL FEATURES Both children had respiratory and cardio-circulatory compromise on arrival. The diagnosis of late presenti...