- Dysbarism is a collective term for all illnesses resulting
from changes in ambient pressure that occur at a rate exceeding
the capacity of the person to adapt safely. Conditions such as
decompression sickness (the bends), arterial gas embolism (AGE),
and barotrauma may result. - Decompression illness is a term
that refers to both decompression sickness and AGE. - Diagnosis
of dysbarism can usually be made on history and examination
alone. - Gas coming out of solution and forming bubbles is the
prime cause of decompression sickness, whereas gas contraction
and expansion causes barotrauma. - Any body tissue can be
affected, resulting in a wide variety of clinical presentations.
Any new symptom with a close temporal relation to diving should
be presumed due to dysbarism until shown to be otherwise. - The
unpredictability of ultimate outcome at the onset of any
decompression illness requires each case to be managed as a
medical emergency. - Recompression is the mainstay of treatment
for decompression illness. E