Abstract:
A statistical study of the hyperbaric and hypobaric episodes of dysbarism observed in routine type I and type H chamber flights has been done. The study involved 1283 aircrew subjects involved in 168.66 hr. of chamber flight constituting 216,390 chamber man-hours. The incidence of dysbarism was 18.5% and involved 238 aircrew. The hyper-baric symptoms of aerotitis/aerosinusitis were observed to be 3% times more than the hypobaric. Between 20,000 ft. and 15,000 ft. altitude, with a differential pressure of 62.5 mm Hg, majority of symptoms of aerotitis/aerosinusitis occurred. This constituted the major hazard and its incidence was 14.41%. The incidence of hypobaric symptoms due to nitrogen gas evolution was only 0.6% and hence did not constitute a hazard. The most serious condition, the neurocirculatory collapse, occurred only in one subject. The incidence of abdominal distension due to expansion of intestinal gases was 3.35% and was the second most common hazard.
Page(s):
85-91
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal, Volume: 18, Issue: 3, Year: 1968