Treatment of 137 Cases of Decompression Sickness.

During the course of the last decade the incidence of decompression sickness within the Royal Navy has markedly increased. Whereas in the past such cases were largely the result of accident or negligence and fortunately rare, the testing of new techniques and tables has produced sufficient material to make some analysis of the various methods of treatment worth while. This paper consists of summaries of the histories of those cases treated by recompression in the Navy of which I have been able to find some record, together with an examination of the effectiveness of treatment employed. The records used have been reports to Naval Medical Officers of Health, records of Courts of Inquiry, Hospital case notes, and the reports of various diving trials. Unfortunately these are neither as accurate nor as detailed as would be desirable, and many gaps exist in the reports. What proportion these cases are of the actual number which occurred is problematical, though I would think that most have been found. In all cases where it has been possible the information given has been cross-checked between the various records. A total of 137 cases are summarised, of which 6 occurred before 1952. During 1962 there has been further experimental diving, and more cases of decompression sickness, some of them of considerable interest, particularly with regard to the management of the more serious cases. These however are to be reported separately, and they do not affect any general conclusions drawn in this paper. Following the case summaries are some comments on the symptomatology, types of treatment and its effectiveness, then a brief discussion of the findings.