Question Adrenaline, the decompression pill?

[Akimbo]

I was reading a book recommended by @Sam Miller III, Man and the Underwater World by Pierre De Latil and Jean Rivoire. It is an history of diving published in 1956 and is more European-centric than most of what I have read. There is a very interesting couple of sentences on Page 266 that caught my attention:

At the Faculty of Medicine at Marseilles a research team has discovered by experimenting on cats that an injection of adrenaline will prevent the formation of nitrogen bubbles. To use this knowledge on human beings will no doubt demand the use of analogous but more convenient substances.¹.

¹ G. Jullien, M. Leandri and L. Blein, Communication au Congres International
de Medecine du Travail et de Medecine legale, Naples, September
1954: "Serious Decompression Accidents,"

Is this an overlooked "magic pill" for decompression or has this been debunked by newer research? The incurable optimist in me is hoping for the former. I attached a PDF file with two pages for more context.

Maybe there is some relation to this theory:

What Does It Mean?

A PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Stephen Thom holds medical and doctorate degrees from the University of Rochester. He previously led […]

dan.org

 

[-JD-]

As someone who has had epinephrine treatment a couple times, I wouldn't want to do that in a major way with any frequency, but it sure would be interesting IF it is effective as low cost, easy to carry, option in the case of a severe hit distant from acute care ...

 

[Akimbo]

IF it is effective as low cost, easy to carry, option in the case of a severe hit distant from acute care ...

Most any medication meets those requirements, compared to the current alternative.

 

[JMBL]

I was reading a book recommended by @Sam Miller III, Man and the Underwater World by Pierre De Latil and Jean Rivoire. It is an history of diving published in 1956 and is more European-centric than most of what I have read. There is a very interesting couple of sentences on Page 266 that caught my attention:



Is this an overlooked "magic pill" for decompression or has this been debunked by newer research? The incurable optimist in me is hoping for the former. I attached a PDF file with two pages for more context.

Maybe there is some relation to this theory:

What Does It Mean?

A PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE and researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Stephen Thom holds medical and doctorate degrees from the University of Rochester. He previously led […]

dan.org

Interesting find @Akimbo. Btw, I wasn't aware an English translation of that book existed. I"ve been looking for an OV copy to add to my collection, for years. Failed to find one : either stupidly overpriced, or battered beyond any hope of repair.

 

[Jcp2]

Acute antioxidant pre-treatment attenuates endothelial microparticle release after decompression - PubMed

These results may provide evidence of the potential use of AOX pre-treatment as an effective endothelial pre-conditioner for divers.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of acute oral antioxidants on diving-induced alterations in human cardiovascular function - PubMed

Diving-induced acute alterations in cardiovascular function such as arterial endothelial dysfunction, increased pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and reduced heart function have been recently reported. We tested the effects of acute antioxidants on arterial endothelial function, PAP and heart...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Time to break out the Flintstones chewables!

 

[Akimbo]

Acute antioxidant pre-treatment attenuates endothelial microparticle release after decompression - PubMed

These results may provide evidence of the potential use of AOX pre-treatment as an effective endothelial pre-conditioner for divers.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Conclusion: These results may provide evidence of the potential use of AOX pre-treatment as an effective endothelial pre-conditioner for divers.

This 5-person study is dated 2010. Surely more work has been done since then. I wonder if @Duke Dive Medicine has seen any more on it?

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I would urge caution in the interpretation of studies like this that measure specific markers. The conclusion states, "These results may provide evidence of the potential use of AOX pre-treatment as an effective endothelial pre-conditioner for divers - bold is mine, and those are the operative words. There's been some work on oxidative stress in diving/hyperbaric conditions since 2010, but nothing that would merit a recommendation to take any specific antioxidants to ward off decompression sickness.

Best regards,
DDM

<edit> I would strongly advise that divers do NOT take epinephrine/adrenaline prior to diving. It would have the effect of increasing heart rate and blood pressure and probably inert gas uptake.

 

[Akimbo]

There's been some work on oxidative stress in diving/hyperbaric conditions since 2010, but nothing that would merit a recommendation to take any specific antioxidants to ward off decompression sickness.

My hopes are dashed once again.

On the other hand, maybe the hidden message here is to take cat hormones!

At the Faculty of Medicine at Marseilles a research team has discovered by experimenting on cats that an injection of adrenaline will prevent the formation of nitrogen bubbles.

 

[JohnN]

On the other hand, maybe the hidden message here is to take cat hormones!

Wouldn't that just make you want to pee on the couch?

 

[Akimbo]

Wouldn't that just make you want to pee on the couch?

Now you tell me.