Accession Number:

AD0743475

Title:

Acoustic-Optical Detection of Decompression Sickness in Hamsters

Descriptive Note:

Medical research progress rept. no. 3,

Corporate Author:

NAVAL MEDICAL RESEARCH INST BETHESDA MD

Personal Author(s):

• Ulrich, Wesley D.
• Smith, Benjamin E.
• Fine, Richard M.

Report Date:

1972-03-01

Pagination or Media Count:

24.0

Abstract:

Severe decompression sickness was produced by explosive decompression in twenty-three of forty-one anesthetized hamsters. Analysis of the post- decompression respiration pattern and untrasonic transmission led to two observations 1 animals without apnea never demonstrated macroscopic bubbles, and 2 animals which gasped always demonstrated macroscopic bubbles. The ultrasound attenuation generally preceded gasping but did not precede apnea unless more than ten minutes had elapsed since decompression. The respiratory signs were considered to be a consequence of pulmonary aero-embolism. Pilot studies with 2-4-phenyl-lpiper-azinylmethyl cyclohexanone HCL, showed that it decreased mortality in unanesthetized hamsters but increased mortality in animals anesthetized with chloralose-urethane. Pilot studies with piphenhydramine in anesthetized hamsters showed no change in mortality rates. Author

Descriptors:

• *DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS
• EXPERIMENTAL DATA
• OPTICAL IMAGES
• DIAGNOSIS(MEDICINE)
• IMAGES
• RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
• ACOUSTIC SIGNALS
• HAMSTERS
• GAS EMBOLISM
• CHEMOTHERAPY
• ULTRASONIC PROPERTIES

Subject Categories:

• Stress Physiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE