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Volume 58
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10.3390/medicina58010104
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Review

Dysbarism: An Overview of an Unusual Medical Emergency

by
Gabriele Savioli
1,2,*,
Claudia Alfano
1,
Christian Zanza
3,4,
Gaia Bavestrello Piccini
5,
Angelica Varesi
6,
Ciro Esposito
7,
Giovanni Ricevuti
8 and
Iride Francesca Ceresa
9
1
Emergency Medicine and Surgery, IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, 27100 Pavia, Italy
2
PhD School in Experimental Medicine, Department of Clinical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
3
“Ospedale Alba-Bra Onlus”—Department of Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Michele and Pietro Ferrero Hospital, 12060 Verduno, Italy
4
Research Training Innovation Infrastructure, Research and Innovation Department, Azienda Ospedaliera SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo, 15121 Alessandria, Italy
5
Emergency Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
6
Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
7
Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, ICS Maugeri, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
8
School of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
9
Emergency Department, Ospedale Civile Vigevano, 27029 Vigevano, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Medicina 2022, 58(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010104
Submission received: 18 November 2021 / Revised: 27 December 2021 / Accepted: 29 December 2021 / Published: 10 January 2022
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Abstract

Dysbarism is a general term which includes the signs and symptoms that can manifest when the body is subject to an increase or a decrease in the atmospheric pressure which occurs either at a rate or duration exceeding the capacity of the body to adapt safely. In the following review, we take dysbarisms into account for our analysis. Starting from the underlying physical laws, we will deal with the pathologies that can develop in the most frequently affected areas of the body, as the atmospheric pressure varies when acclimatization fails. Manifestations of dysbarism range from itching and minor pain to neurological symptoms, cardiac collapse, and death. Overall, four clinical pictures can occur: decompression illness, barotrauma, inert gas narcosis, and oxygen toxicity. We will then review the clinical manifestations and illustrate some hints of therapy. We will first introduce the two forms of decompression sickness. In the next part, we will review the barotrauma, compression, and decompression. The last three parts will be dedicated to gas embolism, inert gas narcosis, and oxygen toxicity. Such an approach is critical for the effective treatment of patients in a hostile environment, or treatment in the emergency room after exposure to extreme physical or environmental factors.
Keywords: dysbarism; acclimatization; decompression illness; barotrauma; era barotrauma; sinus barotrauma; pulmonary compression barotrauma; decrease barotraumas; inert gas narcosis; gas embolism; oxygen toxicity; emergency medicine; hostile environmental medicine dysbarism; acclimatization; decompression illness; barotrauma; era barotrauma; sinus barotrauma; pulmonary compression barotrauma; decrease barotraumas; inert gas narcosis; gas embolism; oxygen toxicity; emergency medicine; hostile environmental medicine

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MDPI and ACS Style

Savioli, G.; Alfano, C.; Zanza, C.; Bavestrello Piccini, G.; Varesi, A.; Esposito, C.; Ricevuti, G.; Ceresa, I.F. Dysbarism: An Overview of an Unusual Medical Emergency. Medicina 2022, 58, 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010104

AMA Style

Savioli G, Alfano C, Zanza C, Bavestrello Piccini G, Varesi A, Esposito C, Ricevuti G, Ceresa IF. Dysbarism: An Overview of an Unusual Medical Emergency. Medicina. 2022; 58(1):104. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010104

Chicago/Turabian Style

Savioli, Gabriele, Claudia Alfano, Christian Zanza, Gaia Bavestrello Piccini, Angelica Varesi, Ciro Esposito, Giovanni Ricevuti, and Iride Francesca Ceresa. 2022. "Dysbarism: An Overview of an Unusual Medical Emergency" Medicina 58, no. 1: 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010104

APA Style

Savioli, G., Alfano, C., Zanza, C., Bavestrello Piccini, G., Varesi, A., Esposito, C., Ricevuti, G., & Ceresa, I. F. (2022). Dysbarism: An Overview of an Unusual Medical Emergency. Medicina, 58(1), 104. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010104

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