Experimental Approaches To Problems Of The Heart And Lungs In Diving

Divers face problems during their work due to stresses placed upon the respiratory system by the hyperbaric environment. In addition, both the respiratory and cardiovascular systems may be injured during the course of decompression sickness. Work at the Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) is directed toward solving problems in both these areas. A system of magnetometers allows evaluation of the impact of stresses from the underwater environment on the diver's respiratory system without interfering with his breathing. Other research described herein is exploring high-frequency oscillation (HFO) of a diver's breathing gas as a means of lessening limitations imposed by increased gas density. Finally, recent and ongoing research described in this paper is aimed at understanding the nature and mechanisms of injury to the heart and lungs during decompression sickness, with the goal of improving prevention and treatment of this disorder.