Tiny Bubbles

摘要

SINCE DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS (DCS) was first described, the elusive nature of its pathophysiology has been a challenge. It is generally thought that intravascular and extravascular bubbles arc responsible for a host of downstream effects that cause the constellation of clinical findings known as DCS. Through the years, theories of gas exchange and bubble formation have been hypothesized, tested, and modiflcd to increase safety and performance in hypo- and hyperbaric decompression excursions. Although perhaps not ideal, this approach has been necessary given the technical limits in a growing field that needs real-time application. In this issue, Wilbur et. al. (9) present what could potentially provide a technical solution to the long hypothesized but ultimately evasive micronuclei. This unique blend of theory and empiricism has certainly advanced the field. but large gaps in our understanding of the hasic mechanisms of bubble formation (and hence DCS) remain.