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Letale Dekompressionskrankheit nach therapeutischer Überdruckbehandlung

Fatal decompression sickness following therapeutic hyperbaric environment

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Summary

In Hannover/Germany in 1976 a so called „Society for Regenerative Hyperbaric Therapy“ (Gesellschaft für Regenerative Überdruck-Therapie) subjected 20 patients within two coupled multi-place chambers to a simulated hyperbaric environment, equivalent to a maximum of 4 ata, followed usually by gradual reductions of the pressure. The patients were of an average age of 67.2 years and were afflicted by various disorders. During one of the „dives“ a patient developed air embolism of the central nervous system. During ensuing confusion the chamber was opened suddenly, with resultant explosive reduction of the high pressure. This resulted in five letal accidents of decompression sickness. Post mortem examination revealed diffuse distribution of gas bubbles throughout the entire body. By elecronmicroscopy each bubble was covered by an osmiophilic coat. Post mortem findings are discussed and correlated with well-known and new clinical symptomes. These observations present for the first time fatal accidents of decompression sickness in humans, associated with hyperbaric air-therapy.

Zusammenfassung

1976 kam es nach plötzlicher Druckentlastung während einer therapeutischen Überdruckbehandlung zu fünf tödlichen Dekompressionskrankheiten. Es handelte sich um Patienten mit einem Durchschnittsalter von 67,2 Jahren, bei denen außerdem verschiedene Vorerkrankungen bestanden haben. Die pathologisch-anatomischen Befunde einschließlich elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungen werden dargestellt und im Rahmen der klinischen Symptomatologie diskutiert. Den klassischen Symptomen der Dekompressionskrankheit werden weitere Komplikationen an die Seite gestellt. Es handelt sich um die ersten Beobachtungen tödlicher Dekompressionskrankheiten des Menschen im Rahmen einer therapeutischen Druckkammerbehandlung mittels komprimierter Luft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathologisches Institut der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Krankenhausstr. 8-10, D-8520, Erlangen

    K. Richter

  2. Pathologisches Institut der Landeshauptstadt Hannover im Krankenhaus Nordstadt, Haltenhoffstr. 41, D-3000, Hannover, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    H. -J. Löblich

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  1. K. Richter
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Richter, K., Löblich, H.J. Letale Dekompressionskrankheit nach therapeutischer Überdruckbehandlung. Z Rechtsmed 81, 45–61 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200598

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00200598

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