Aeroembolism

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Aeroembolism

Aeroembolism (pronounced: air-o-em-bol-ism), also known as Decompression sickness or The bends, is a medical condition caused by a rapid decrease in the pressure that surrounds a person, typically during a rapid ascent from deep water or high altitude.

Etymology

The term "aeroembolism" is derived from the Greek words "aero" meaning air, and "embolism" meaning obstruction. It was first used in the medical field in the early 20th century to describe the symptoms experienced by deep-sea divers and pilots.

Definition

Aeroembolism is a condition that occurs when air bubbles enter the bloodstream and cause blockages in blood vessels. This can occur during rapid ascent from deep water or high altitude, where the pressure surrounding the body decreases too quickly for the gases dissolved in the body's fluids to be expelled normally.

Symptoms

Symptoms of aeroembolism can include joint pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, fatigue, paralysis, and in severe cases, death. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on the size and location of the air bubbles within the bloodstream.

Treatment

Treatment for aeroembolism typically involves recompression in a hyperbaric chamber, which increases the surrounding pressure and allows the gases to be expelled from the body. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the air bubbles.

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski