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Decompression-Related Disorders: Decompression Sickness, Arterial Gas Embolism, and Ebullism Syndrome

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Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight

The three maladies to be discussed in this chapter—decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, and ebullism—all arise from changes in ambient atmospheric pressure, which is the pressure of the gas immediately surrounding an individual. In space flight, the largest planned change in ambient atmospheric pressure is associated with extravehicular activities (EVAs) that take place as the crew moves back and forth between the crew cabin and the environment outside, where they wear pressurized suits. The cabin atmospheric pressure in all current spacecraft typically approximates the atmospheric pressure found at sea level, namely 1 atm absolute pressure (ata) (or 101 kPa). From a strictly physiological point of view, this design specification is probably not optimal, but it serves other interests such as simplifying the conduct of biomedical research. Selected space suit pressures represent a compromise between engineering concerns, which dictate that the internal pressure of a space suit be low to maximize flexibility, and physiological risks. (The space suit used in the current U.S. space program, the extravehicular mobility unit, is pressurized to 30 kPa (4.3 psia); the Orlan suit, used in the current Russian space program, is pressurized to 38 kPa (5.5 psia).) Consequently, crewmembers performing EVAs experience substantial shifts in ambient atmospheric pressure. Unplanned crew cabin or space suit decompressions are also possible while living and working in the hard vacuum of space. The pathophysiological consequences of such exposures are the subject of this chapter [1].

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  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    William T. Norfleet M.D.

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    Michael R. Barratt M.D.,M.S.  & Sam L. Pool M.D.  & 

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Norfleet, W.T. (2008). Decompression-Related Disorders: Decompression Sickness, Arterial Gas Embolism, and Ebullism Syndrome. In: Barratt, M.R., Pool, S.L. (eds) Principles of Clinical Medicine for Space Flight. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-68164-1_11

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