Case report: intracardial gas bubbles in relation to altitude decompression chokes. | Canada Hyperbarics Skip to main content
Case Study Aviation, space, and environmental medicine 1978

Case report: intracardial gas bubbles in relation to altitude decompression chokes.

Balldin UI — Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 1978

Tier 2, Indexed

Automatically imported from PubMed based on relevance criteria.

Summary

What Researchers Did

Researchers described a case of altitude decompression sickness (chokes) that occurred unintentionally during an experiment investigating safe intervals between diving and flying at 9,000 meters.

What They Found

In this case, intracardial gas bubbles were detected for 65 minutes, with heavy showers lasting 38 minutes, before the onset of chokes symptoms. Symptoms and bubbles partially persisted after recompression but resolved completely after 10 minutes of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Notably, the same subject and others did not develop chokes in other experiments despite similar durations of heavy intracardial gas bubbles.

Canadian Relevance

This case report has no direct Canadian connection.

Study Limitations

As a single case report, the findings of this study have limited generalizability to a broader population.

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Study Details

Study Type Case Study
Category Decompression Sickness
Source Pubmed
PubMed ID 718583
Year Published 1978
Journal Aviation, space, and environmental medicine
MeSH Terms Adult; Aerospace Medicine; Airway Obstruction; Decompression Sickness; Diving; Gases; Humans; Male; Myocardium

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: April 2, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology