Short-term effect of hyperbaric exposure on Ventilation: A Control Study of 12m-depth Single No-decompression Dive Experiment

TL;DR

This study compares the short-term effects of hyperbaric exposure on ventilation between underwater diving at 12m depth and chamber diving, finding temporary ventilation restrictions that recover within 24 hours.

Contribution

It provides novel insights into how underwater and chamber hyperbaric exposures differently affect ventilation functions in healthy divers.

Findings

Ventilation restriction occurs during hyperbaric exposure in both conditions.

Ventilation parameters recover within 24 hours after exposure.

Underwater diving causes larger ventilation effects than chamber diving.

Abstract

Objective: To study to what extent or durations of ventilation effect in a single no-decompression dive of 12 meters to a diver. Methods: There are 29 healthy volunteers divers assigned into SCUBA diving of 12m-depth underwater (the Experimental Group, EG)and chamber dive under 2.2 ATA for 20min (the Control Group, CG) matched with the factors of the age,gender,BMI and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC).Ventilation functions were measured by spirometer before diving and in 1h and 24h of post-hyperbaric exposure. Used independent samples T tests to compare the differences between the EG and CG.Analyzed of variance through repeated measurement data of different time point before or after high pressure exposure by SPSS 20.0. Results: The Inspiratory Reserve Volume(IRV) rises while the Expiratory Reserve Volume(ERV) falls significantly in 1h after high pressure release(p<0.05).So as with the Inspiratory Capacity (IC) and the Vital Capacity (VC) increased accordingly. The Ratio of FEV1.0 to VC (FEV1.0%t) is higher in CG than EG (t=-2.189,p=0.033) due to the change of VC. But the effects did not last for 24 h after high pressure relief. Conclusions: Ventilation is restricted during the 20min of hyperbaric exposure whether under 12m-depth water or in a 2.2ATA hyperbaric chamber. But the effect recovered close to normal within 24 h. But the effect recovered close to normal within 24 h. The extent of restriction of underwater diving is larger than the dry air hyperbaric chamber dive. Higher water medium density, submerged compressing blood volume of lower limbs and raising inertia added by portable underwater breathing apparatus all might be attributable to the ventilation effects.