Skin Bends

[diveprojeff]

I was diving ccr (3 dives per day). I developed a light rash on ankles on day 3 of 4 days of diving. Rash spread and was very light around ankles and waist. Called DAN about 10 hours before flight was to leave. (Had been out of water for 48 hours at this point) No signs of stiffness but very tired legs! Had been diving in strong current all week. We concluded I probably had a reaction to scrubbing agent or disinfectant. (By the way, there was never any itching of the rash)
Once at altitude, something didn't feel right with my skin! I went into restroom and discovered I was covered from shoulders to toes with a rash that now seems to be "smeared solid"
Upon arrival home I saw my doctor. He sent me directly to a hospital that had an O2 chamber. With consultation with DAN they agreed I was a canidate for treatment. However when I heard the protocal, I will admit I was concerned.
I was to take 100% O2 at 2.8ata for one hour, reduced to 2.0 ata for one hour, then finish at 1.5 ata for one half hour.
Treatment went well and rash disappeared the following day.
Since this was my first ride in the chamber(I will try to keep it my last) I was taken back by these high ppo's. NOAA gives us 1.6 single exposure of 45 mins. Are high chamber ppo's possible because you are just lying there?

 

[divenut2001]

I was diving ccr (3 dives per day). I developed a light rash on ankles on day 3 of 4 days of diving. Rash spread and was very light around ankles and waist. Called DAN about 10 hours before flight was to leave. (Had been out of water for 48 hours at this point) No signs of stiffness but very tired legs! Had been diving in strong current all week. We concluded I probably had a reaction to scrubbing agent or disinfectant. (By the way, there was never any itching of the rash)
Once at altitude, something didn't feel right with my skin! I went into restroom and discovered I was covered from shoulders to toes with a rash that now seems to be "smeared solid"
Upon arrival home I saw my doctor. He sent me directly to a hospital that had an O2 chamber. With consultation with DAN they agreed I was a canidate for treatment. However when I heard the protocal, I will admit I was concerned.
I was to take 100% O2 at 2.8ata for one hour, reduced to 2.0 ata for one hour, then finish at 1.5 ata for one half hour.
Treatment went well and rash disappeared the following day.
Since this was my first ride in the chamber(I will try to keep it my last) I was taken back by these high ppo's. NOAA gives us 1.6 single exposure of 45 mins. Are high chamber ppo's possible because you are just lying there?

Can't answer that myself but you can call DAN's questions line and get it straight from them.

(919) 684-2948

 

[rmediver2002]

Can't answer that myself but you can call DAN's questions line and get it straight from them.

(919) 684-2948

The treatment is conducted with the patient at rest, another factor you did not mention is that you take periodic air breaks instead of breathing 100% O2 straight through the treatment and lastly you have a designated inside tender who is monitoring your progress and watching for any signs of CNS O2 toxicity. (in the event a symptom presents the tender will immediately remove the patient from O2)

Glad this took care of your problem but 48 hours sounds like an impossibly long interval for skin bends to occur, especially with no other symptoms...

 

[TX101]

Are high chamber ppo's possible because you are just lying there?

That does seem high...

When you suffer an o2 hit underwater, it's not the hit that will kill you - it's drowning. An o2 hit on land is much more managable ... providing you dont bite your tounge off :yippie17:

 

[rmediver2002]

The treatment begins at a depth of 60 feet sea water breathing 100% O2 = 2.81 atmospheres absolute O2

The patient is then brought a depth of 30 FSW = 1.90 ATA O2

 

[Gary D.]

The treatment begins at a depth of 60 feet sea water breathing 100% O2 = 2.81 atmospheres absolute O2

The patient is then brought a depth of 30 FSW = 1.90 ATA O2

Man does that work wonders for a hangover Throughly tested during the Navy days.

Gary D.

 

[divenut2001]

The treatment begins at a depth of 60 feet sea water breathing 100% O2 = 2.81 atmospheres absolute O2

The patient is then brought a depth of 30 FSW = 1.90 ATA O2

So if O2 ATAs greater than 1.6 put you at risk to convulce how is it you can stay in the chamber for so long @ 2.81? Is it the air breaks and how often are they given? What about the monitor and their risk for CNS? Thanks Jeff...

 

[rmediver2002]

So if O2 ATAs greater than 1.6 put you at risk to convulce how is it you can stay in the chamber for so long @ 2.81? Is it the air breaks and how often are they given? What about the monitor and their risk for CNS? Thanks Jeff...

The tenders are breathing air during the treatment (until the last portion of the treatment at 30 FSW) so are not at risk for CNS O2 toxicity.

Well, the exact response causing CNS O2 is not known (some very good theories do exist) so we can only examine instances when CNS O2 occurs and situations that it does not and examine the differences.

As you pointed out during treatment the patient is taking periodic air breaks, they are also laying down and at rest during the treatment. All of these combined may be factors...

All this aside CNS O2 toxicity does occur during treatments but the instances are pretty rare.

 

[diveprojeff]

The teatment I took was very much different than you mention rmediver. I was placed by myself in a clear cylindrical chamber. (Actually watched tv during treatment)I had a tender watching and communicating with me on the outside. I was told the gas medium I was breathing was 100% O2. No masks or anthing involved. All I did was don an explosion proof (no static) gown, slide in, equalize on way down, and watch tv for duration of treatment. Every so often, I was asked if I was having any problem, if I was doing alright. Went home after treatment, returned for possible follow up treatment the next day. Was evaluated and told follow up treatment not needed.
The fact that I was going to be subjected to these ppo's with no tender inside with me was the source of my concern.

 

[rmediver2002]

http://www.oxytank.com/mono.htm

I understand, you were in a monoplace chamber most likely similar in construction to the one in this link.

The smaller volume is able to be vented pretty rapidly but if they were flooding the entire chamber with O2 it would seem like an unneccesary waste of O2 and more of a safety hazard.

I am curious to know if they at any point had you breathing air instead of O2?

Would you mind posting the location of the facility you recieved treatment at?