Decompression sickness

Caisson disease, also known as “the bends”, stems from air bubbles forming in tissues when a person breathes gases at high pressure and then returns to normal pressure too quickly. Treating Caisson disease involves administering oxygen and implementing recompression.

The symptoms of decompression sickness vary depending on the size and location of the bubbles. Mild symptoms can include joint and muscle pain (hence the name “the bends”), fatigue, and skin rash. More severe symptoms can include paralysis, confusion, seizures, and respiratory and cardiac problems.

Source | Author Doctor Nikas Samuolis, reviewed by Prof. Virginijus Šapoka | Vilnius University | Faculty of Medicine | Head of the Department of Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, and Oncology