Determination of Gas Solubility and Saturation Capacity of Blood under Hyperbaric Conditions before and after Food Intake

Abstract

INVESTIGATIONS of various human reactions, both physiological and psychological, to a hyperbaric atmosphere all require specialized quantitative techniques to register the changes involved. This is of particular importance to divers. Previously, a number of parameters could only be estimated roughly by means of many subjective observations. There has always been a great demand for analysis of the gas solubility and saturation capacity of tissues in varying conditions^1–3. Symptoms of decompression sickness may sometimes occur after deep diving (more than 50 m) even if decompression tables and other safety precautions have been followed carefully. These facts inspired the present investigation into the question whether the diet of a diver could be of importance, because the fat content of blood increases some hours after a meal. For that purpose a simple method for the determination of the gas solubility and saturation capacity of blood has been developed.