newt
Registered
Hi Dr. Deco,
I am a anesthesiologist who just completed his basic nitrox course. We dive here at 4-8000 ft, and have to adjust our times on the standard tables. (for example, a 58 foot dive would be adjusted to 72 feet) I understand this because we are basicly offgassing in a rarefied atomsphere and can come down with the bends easier. The issue becomes more difficult when we are talking about oxygen toxicity. Should we adjust our tables for greater depth (and a greater a.t.a.) when we are calculating our oxygen load?
On one hand I would say no because the a.t.a. would not change with altitude- you should probably use the actual depth.
On the other hand, since we breathe a much lower partial pressure of oxygen than you do at sea level, maybe we are more susceptable to oxygen toxicity and should use the altitude adjusted tables.
But what makes you susceptable to oxygen toxicity? Low antioxidants in the body? Low seizure threshold? Or do we know?
I am a anesthesiologist who just completed his basic nitrox course. We dive here at 4-8000 ft, and have to adjust our times on the standard tables. (for example, a 58 foot dive would be adjusted to 72 feet) I understand this because we are basicly offgassing in a rarefied atomsphere and can come down with the bends easier. The issue becomes more difficult when we are talking about oxygen toxicity. Should we adjust our tables for greater depth (and a greater a.t.a.) when we are calculating our oxygen load?
On one hand I would say no because the a.t.a. would not change with altitude- you should probably use the actual depth.
On the other hand, since we breathe a much lower partial pressure of oxygen than you do at sea level, maybe we are more susceptable to oxygen toxicity and should use the altitude adjusted tables.
But what makes you susceptable to oxygen toxicity? Low antioxidants in the body? Low seizure threshold? Or do we know?