A critical review of physiological bubble formation in hyperbaric decompression.
Adv Colloid Interface Sci
; 191-192: 22-30, 2013 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23523006
ABSTRACT
Bubbles are known to form in the body after scuba dives, even those done well within the decompression model limits. These can sometimes trigger decompression sickness and the dive protocols should therefore aim to limit bubble formation and growth from hyperbaric decompression. Understanding these processes physiologically has been a challenge for decades and there are a number of questions still unanswered. The physics and historical background of this field of study is presented and the latest studies and current developments reviewed. Heterogeneous nucleation is shown to remain the prime candidate for bubble formation in this context. The two main theories to account for micronuclei stability are then to consider hydrophobicity of surfaces or tissue elasticity, both of which could also explain some physiological observations. Finally the modeling relevance of the bubble formation process is discussed, together with that of bubble growth as well as multiple bubble behavior.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Decompression
/
Physiological Phenomena
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Adv Colloid Interface Sci
Journal subject:
QUIMICA
Year:
2013
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: