Decompression Decompression Sickness

Decompression - Decompression Sickness

Decompression — Decompression Sickness

The Laboratory of Hyperbaric Physiology of the Medical Clinic of the University of Zurich came into existence in 1960 thanks to private initiative and a readiness to undertake risks; the success ful start was made possible with help from the French Navy and the United States Navy. A prerequisite for the development of the laboratory was also the benevolence of the authorities of the University of Zurich toward a research project from which scarcely any practical use could be expected for the land-locked country of Switzerland. The development of the laboratory and the systematic research were supported generously from 1964 by Shell Intemationale Petroleum Maatschappij of The Hague. The basic theme of the research was always the well-being and functional ability of the human being in an atmosphere of abnor mal pressure and or abnormal composition. Many connections became obvious with respiratory physiolo gy, circulatory physiology, and physiology at great heigts, and close contact with other special laboratories of the Medical Clin ic proved very valuable. With a relatively small number of steady collaborators it was possible to master an extensive experimental program. Special thanks are due to Mr. Benno Schenk, who as technical head was responsible for the exact performance of all the hyperbaric experiments.

The Physician’s Guide to Diving Medicine

This book is designed to be a physician's guide for those interested in diving and hyperbaric environments. It is not a detailed document for the erudite researcher; rather, it is a source of information for the scuba-diving physician who is searching for answers put to him by his fellow nonmedical divers. Following the publication of The Underwater Handbook: A Guide to Physiology and Performance for the Engineer there were frequent requests for a companion volume for the physician. This book is designed to fill the void. Production of the book has been supported by the Office of Naval Research and by the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Research and Development Command, under Navy Contract No. NOOOOI4-78-C-0604. Our heartfelt thanks go to the many authors without whose contributions the book could not have been produced. These articles are signed by the responsible authors, and the names a~e also listed alphabetically in these preliminary pages. Every chapter was officially reviewed by at least one expert in the field covered and these reviewers are also listed on these pages. Our thanks go to them for their valuable assistance. We are grateful to Marthe Beckett Kent for editing Chapter III. Our thanks also go to Mrs. Carolyn Paddon for typing and retyping the manuscripts, and to Mrs. Catherine Coppola, who so expertly handled the many fiscal affairs.