Isobaric counterdiffusion of carbon tetrafluoride breathing gas to prevent severe decompression sickness

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Lance, Rachel M.; Makowski, Matthew S.; Mahon, Richard T.; Everitt, Jeffrey I.; Natoli, Michael J.; Wright, Mary C.; Howle, Laurens E.; Bartlett, Nicholas C.; Patel, Aashay; Morales, Gabriela; Moon, Richard E.
• 署名单位: Duke University; Duke University; University of Texas System; University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc; Duke University; Duke University; Duke University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2600125123
• 发表日期: 2026-08-18
• 页码: e2600125123
• 关键词: decompression; decompression sickness; diving; prevention; perfluoromethane; diffusion-coefficients; SWINE MODEL; INERT-GASES; PERFLUOROCARBON; bubbles; water; RISK; manifestation; solubility; oxide

摘要

Decompression sickness (DCS) risk limits human undersea operations through tissue inert gas supersaturation and pathological bubble formation. Switching the inert breathing gas prior to decompression to a gas with lower diffusivity could allow faster and safer decompression. This principle was tested in 20 kg swine after a helium-oxygen (He/O2) dive using carbon tetrafluoride. Sedated swine breathed He/O2 79/21 at a pressure equivalent of 200 feet of seawater (714 kPa) in a hyperbaric chamber for 50 min until randomized to continuing He/O2 or switching to carbon tetrafluoride and oxygen (CF4/O2 79/21) for 10 min before decompression. The CF4/O2 group had reduced DCS with lower mortality, hypoxemia, pulmonary edema, venous gas emboli, gait disturbance, rash, and central nervous system hemorrhage. CF4/O2 has the potential to expand human exploration through enabling deeper dives, longer dives, and rapid decompression while maintaining safety.