Descompresiva

Descompresiva refers to a decompression procedure, most commonly associated with diving. When a diver ascends too quickly from a depth where they have been breathing compressed gas, dissolved gases within their body tissues can form bubbles. This condition is known as decompression sickness, or "the bends." Descompresiva procedures are designed to prevent or treat this by allowing the dissolved gases to be safely eliminated from the body.

The primary method of descompresiva is a controlled ascent. Divers are trained to ascend at a specific rate, often accompanied by mandatory stops at certain depths. These "decompression stops" allow the body time to off-gas nitrogen and other inert gases absorbed under pressure. The duration and depth of these stops are determined by dive tables or dive computers, which take into account factors like depth, time spent underwater, and the breathing gas used.

In cases where decompression sickness occurs, a recompression chamber is used for treatment. The patient is placed in a chamber and recompressed to a pressure equivalent to a specific depth. This reduces the size of the bubbles and helps the gases to re-dissolve into the tissues. The patient is then slowly decompressed, mimicking a controlled ascent, to allow for safe gas elimination. This recompression-decompression treatment is a critical part of managing serious cases of decompression sickness.