CHOKES

Course overview

CHOKES, ALSO KNOWN AS PULMONARY DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS, IS A RARE BUT SEVERE MANIFESTATION OF DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS (DCS) THAT CAN BE RAPIDLY FATAL EVEN WITH APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. COMMON SYMPTOMS INCLUDE DYSPNEA AND CHEST PAIN. ALSO CALLED "DIVERS' DISEASE," "BENDS," "AEROBULLOSIS," AND "CAISSON DISEASE," DCS IS CAUSED BY BUBBLES IN THE BODY EMERGING FROM DISSOLVED TISSUE AND BLOOD GASES DURING DECOMPRESSION. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHEN THE AMBIENT PRESSURE SUDDENLY DROPS AFTER SUCH ACTIVITIES AS A RAPID ASCENT FROM DIVING, EMERGENCE FROM A CAISSON, FLYING IN AN UNPRESSURIZED AIRCRAFT AT HIGH ALTITUDE, AND ENGAGING IN AN EXTRAVEHICULAR ACTIVITY OUTSIDE A SPACECRAFT. THIS CONTINUING EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT APPROACH TO PULMONARY DCS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN IMPROVING CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.