Altitude decompression sickness and its protection in U-2 pilots

Abstract

Objective To review the incidence of altitude decompression sickness (ADS) and protections in U-2 pilots in order to provide reference to Chinese pilot′s life support technique for extra-high altitude flight. Literature resource and selection The related articles published at home and abroad. Literature quotation Twenty-one published references were cited. Literature synthesis The ADS is always a serious threat to the health of the pilots in extra-high altitude flight . In this paper, the author reviewed all the publicly reported ADS cases of U-2 pilots since 1959, and analyzed the trending of incidence of ADS in U-2 pilots and the study progress on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ADS in US military. Conclusions The high morbidity and serious consequence of ADS in U-2 pilots are due to the U-2 pilots frequently expose to the high altitude hypobaric environment for long time. It is meaningful to our study on pilot′s life support technique for extra-high altitude flight by summarizing the prevention and countermeasures of ADS for U-2 pilots. Key words: Decompression sickness; Gravity suits; Diagnosis; Therapy; Neurologic decompression sickness; Review; Pilots