Decompression and Hyperbarics Flashcards
Key tenets that encompass treatment of serious decompression sickness (severe and progressive neurologic signs) include which of the following?
a) Immediate high dose corticosteroid therapy administerted intravenously
b) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
c) Calcium Channel Blockade
d) High flow oxygen 100% at sea level pressure
e) Intravenous perfluorocarbons emulsions combined with high flow oxygen by closed face mask
b) Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
The beneficial in vivo effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in the treatment of gas gangrene is that:
a) O2 is bacteriocidal for Clostridial organisms at tensions of 250mmHg.
b) O2 is bacteriostatic for Clostridial organisms, at tensions above 1400mmHg.
c) O2 stops alpha toxin production by Clostridial organisms at tension of 250mmHg.
d) O2 stops alpha toxin production by Clostridial organisms at tensions above 1400mmHg.
c) O2 tensions of 250mmHg stop alph toxin production. Although 1400mmHg will kill Clostridial organisms, measured tissue oxygen levels in the phlegmon regions of the organism reach only about 400-600mmHg at 3 times sea level pressure.
When a person hyperventilates at Altitude:
a) the blood pH increases
b) the respiratory quotient is driven below 1.
c) the kidney will retain bicarbonate
d) carbonic acid levels fall faster than carbon dioxide levels.
e) all the above
a) the blood pH increases (alkalosis due to blowing off CO2) This leads to a respiratory alkalosis. The RQ will be driven above 1 rather than below. CO2 tension changes at a faster rate than carbonic acid levels.
Exercise prior to decompression:
a) increases incidence and severity of decompression sickness during subsequent high altitude exposure.
b) can reduce incidence of DCS during subsequent high altitude exposure if performed during prebreathe.
c) increases the likelihood of hypoxia during subsequent high altitude exposure due to residual effects of increased metabolic rate.
d) has the same effect on incidence and severity of DCS as exercise performed during subsequent high altitude exposure.
e) has no effect on incidence and severity of DCS during subsequent high altitude exposure.
b) The exercise enhances perfusion and diffusion during prebreathing which facilitates removal of nitrogen.
Breathing gas supplied via diluter demand regulators set to NORMAL (no 100% oxygen) at a cabin altitude of 22,500 feet provides:
a) sufficient oxygen to preclude symptoms of hypoxia at that altitude
b) insufficient oxygen to preclude hypoxia immediately following rapid decompression to 40,000 feet.
c) as much as 40% nitrogen, negating efficient denitrogenation
d) all of the above
e) none of the above
d) all of the above.
Altitude decompression sickness symptoms typically:
a) consist of joint pain
b) resolve on descent from altitude
c) are not observed during research chamber exposures to 22,500 to 24,000 feet.
d) all of the above
e) a and b above
e) a and b
Positive pressure breathing for altitude is directed at:
a) get me down scenarios
b) maintaining normal sea level arterial oxygen levels
c) maintaining an alveolar oxygen concentration above 60 mmHg.
d) use only above 50,000 ft.
e) a and c above.
e) a and c above
Ebullism:
a) is a misspelling of embolism
b) occurs above 63,000 ft the Armstrongs line
c) results from tissue water vaporization
d) refers to altitude decompression sickness within tissues.
e) b and c above.
e) b and c above
On theoretical grounds, from the standpoint of no available oxygen in the lungs without hyperventilation when breathing oxygen, the lowest physiologic equivalent altitude to that of being in outer space is:
a) 45,000
b) 50,000
c) 61,000
d) 100,000
b) 50,000 feet
At altitudes above 63,000 feet, the barometric pressure is less than the vapor pressure of body fluids, with all of the implications of anoxia and the boiling phenomenon. Consequently, a decompression to a near vacuum invariably results in:
a) immediate cardiac arrest
b) virtual equalization of arterial and venous pressures
c) death within less than one minute
d) irreversible brain damage
b) The combination of anoxia, vaporization and degassing of body fluids has a profound effect on the cardiovascular system with an immediate abnormal increase in the venous pressure together with a rapid decrease in the arterial pressure such that, with a few seconds, the venous pressure equals or exceeds the arterial pressure. Cardiac output virtually ceases and severe bradycardia ensues. If not recompressed within 90 seconds, death will ensue.
After a rapid decompression to an altitude of about 53,00 feet while breathing oxygen, the loss of consciousness can only be avoided by recompression to a safe pressure altitude within:
a) 3 seconds
b) 6 seconds
c) 12 seconds
d) 15 seconds
b) despite being on oxygen, it is unpressurized, such that TUC is less than 15 seconds, but since it was a rapid decompression, you must half that amount, so 6-7 seconds would be the number.
When considering the possible physiologic effects of a rapid decompression at high altitudes, it is necessary to distinguish between those effects that might occur during the decompression process itself and the physiologic consequences that can occur at some time after the decompression. Which one of the following effects might most likely only occur during a rapid decompression:
a) cerebral hypoxia
b) decompression sickness
c) pneumothorax
d) barotitis media
c. pneumothorax, resulting from the tearing of lung tissue, would most likely only occur during the rapid decompression itself, particularly if the pulmonary airways are obstructed or completely blocked.
The onset of critical hypoxia and incapacitation following sudden loss of cabin pressure during high altitude flight is inevitable without adequate oxygen equipment for the aircrew and passengers. Experimental rapid decompressions from 8000 feet to 40,000 feet within 3 seconds, while breathing the cabin air, have shown that performance can be significantly impaired if the use of 100% oxygen is delayed by:
a) 0 seconds
b) 5 seconds
c) 10 seconds
d) 15 seconds
a) 0 seconds. Studies by the RAF have shown that even when oxygen breathing is started immediately after such a decompression to 38,000 to 40,000 feet, a transient episode of hypoxia severe enough to impair the crew may often occur.
The most catastrophic consequences that can result from a rapid decompression, even though recompression to a safe pressure altitude is initiated immediately, is on that occurs:
a) within less than one second
b) to the vacuum of space
c) with breath-holding
d) while wearing the pressure demand oxygen mask
c. With breath holding. It can cause rapid expansion of the lungs, pneumothorax and airway trauma.
A 50 year old male was ascending from 20 feet of water, breathing normally and ascending at the rate of 60 feet per minute. At the surface he developed puffiness in his neck, a high pitched voice, and nausea. Physical exam revealed subcutaneous emphysema on the neck and a mediastinal crunch over the precordium, and the neurologic exam was normal. The most likely diagnosis is:
a) cerebral gas embolism
b) pneumothorax
c) subcutaneous emphysema, mediastinal emphysema, and pneumopericardium.
d) none of the above
c. Subcutaneous emphysema, mediastinal emphysema, and pneumopericardium.
The average time of useful consciousness is based on inactive subjects (meaning someone who is active about the cabin is burning up more oxygen in the muscle and cardiac tissue and their TUC would be less). The average time of useful consciousness breathing ambient air at 35,000 feet is approximately ____________.
45 seconds. Assumes a non-rapid decompression and resting person.
In pressurized aircraft, the rate and time of an aircraft decompression is determined by:
a) flight altitude, pressure ratio, and cabin temperature
b) size of the opening in the cabin, volume of the cabin, and the pressure differential
c) pressure differential, direction of the airflow, and volume of the cabin
d) size of the opening, direction of the airflow, and cabin temperature
b) Size of the opening, volume of the cabin, and the pressure differential
During high altitude flight in a pressurized aircraft, failure of the cabin may result in a rapid, violent loss of the environmental pressure. The severity during such a sudden decompression is most dependent on which one of the following factors?
a) a large cabin volume
b) a large pressure differential
c) a large pressure ratio
d) a low ambient atmospheric pressure
b) A large pressure differential
Without pressure suit protection, the most imminent danger following a rapid decompression to altitudes above 50,000 feet is:
a) decompression sickness
b) lung rupture
c) oxygen lack
d) boiling of body fluids
c) lack of oxygen
