decompression illness
Chapter: 7
Seen most commonly in sport and commercial diving, or in construction workers breathing compressed air in caissons. Under increased pressure during diving, nitrogen gas becomes dissolved in tissues, and forms bubbles in the circulatory system upon ascent, if done too rapidly. These gas bubbles are one form of embolism, and may occlude vessels, leading to ischemia, pain, neurologic symptoms, and perhaps death.
Reference: The Physiology of Decompression Illness. Moon, RE, Vann, RD, and Bennett, PB. Scientific American, August 1995.