Nitrogen Elimination in Man During Decompression and the Effect of Air or Oxygen Breathing on Helium Elimination During Decompression Following Helium Dives.

摘要

Nitrogen elimination following air dives and helium elimination following helium dives were measured quantitatively during decompression to determine the effect of the decompression profile and/or gas mixture breathed to the inert gas elimination. A closed circuit system was found to be necessary to accumulate measurable amounts of inert gas eliminated from the body using the MS-8 Mass Spectrometer in respiratory mode. While breathing helium/oxygen following an air dive to 100 feet for 40 minutes, the maximal amount of nitrogen was eliminated at the 50 foot level during a 90 minute washout period following the air dive. Lesser amounts of nitrogen were eliminated at 10 feet following the same dive and the least amount was eliminated isobarically at 100 feet. Air and oxygen were found to be equally efficacious in measurements made over a 90 minute period in promoting helium elimination when breathed at a depth of 40 feet following a 120 foot, 40 minute helium/oxygen dive. Further work is continuing with the subjects totally submerged in water.