Abstract
Breathing oxygen enriched gases during decompression procedure leads to decreased time spent at specific decompression stop and ultimately to shorter dives with same amount of time on the bottom. However, breathing oxygen can damage endothelial function with reduction in flow mediated vasodilation (FMD). Five female and five male experienced SCUBA divers, with a mean age of 39±3 years (mean±SEM), were included in this investigation. Each diver performed three dives to 45 meters of sea water and 20 minutes bottom time using air. Air, nitrox 50 or nitrox 99 were used during decompression stops in accordance to V‐planner software. Order of the dives was randomized, with one day of recovery between each dive. Brachial artery function (FMD) was determined before and after each dive using ultrasound. Same device was used to measure number of venous gas bubbles after diving. Total diving times using air, nitrox 50 or nitrox 99 were 65, 45 and 43 minutes, respectively. Bubble grades after corresponding dives were: 1.4±0.4, 1.9±0.4 and 0.9±0.2, and did not show statistical difference. FMDs after corresponding dives were: 7.6±3.9%, 1.0±8.6% and 7.4±3.7, and did not show statistical difference although function of the arteries was greatly affected if divers used nitrox 50 as gas during decompression. In conclusion, we would recommend protocol which employs breathing nitrox 99 during decompression since it leads to the shortest dive with no significant change in both bubble number and FMD comparing to dive with air.This study was supported by Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports.
Published Version
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