B. Lehnigk et al., EFFECTS OF A SINGLE SATURATION DIVE ON LUNG-FUNCTION AND EXORCISE PERFORMANCE, International archives of occupational and environmental health, 69(3), 1997, pp. 201-208
We studied the effects of an experimental saturation dive to 360 and 4
50 m in a simulation chamber on spirometric lung function, diffusing c
apacity, pulmonary compliance, and exercise performance in eight profe
ssional divers (age 22-40 years). To assess intraindividual variabilit
y, all parameters were measured on 2 days before and on 2 consecutive
days immediately after the dive. For the group as a whole there was a
significant increase in vital capacity and alveolar volume, and a decr
ease in Krogh factor and specific compliance (P < 0.01). These changes
were reduced on the 2nd day after the dive. All subjects showed lower
ed exercise performance after the dive. Arterial pressure of oxygen an
d ventilation during exercise increased (P < 0.01), whereas arterial p
ressure of carbon dioxide, oxygen uptake, and anaerobic threshold decr
eased (P < 0.01). Exercise parameters showed only a slight trend towar
ds pre-dive values on the 2nd day after a dive. The individual analysi
s revealed that after the dive two subjects showed a marked decrease i
n diffusing capacity and a more than average decrease in Krogh factor
(TL(CO)/V-A). One of them had signs of mild decompression sickness and
the other, signs of preexisting obstructive airways disease. Our data
are compatible with the hypothesis that the effects of a single deep
saturation dive on pulmonary function and exercise performance are the
results of counteracting mechanisms. We suggest that lung volumes inc
rease due to the enhanced work of breathing during a deep saturation d
ive and that these changes could mask an impairment in gas exchange. F
urthermore, a saturation dive can induce an apparent deterioration of
pulmonary function.