Report of Evaluation of Decompression Sickness, Beale AFB 10-14 Aug 2009

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA526033&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

Report of Evaluation of Decompression Sickness, Beale AFB 10-14 Aug 2009

AFRL-SA-BR-TR-2010-0008


Robert S. Michaelson, Col, USAF, MC, SFS
Andy Pilmanis, Ph.D.
Thomas Morgan, Ph.D.

Convincing evidence of at least four very severe cases of central nervous system DCS and three cases of chokes. Several cases of probable and possible neurological and joint pain DCS cases. Cases are of a type and severity rarely found in flight operations. Appropriate treatment provided in the AOR. May be the direct result of increased physical activity in the cockpit and the longer (9-11 hours) altitude exposures. Signs and symptoms recur with a possible temporal relationship to the commercial flight home. Other factors undiscovered may also play a role; for example, homes are at a higher altitude than Beale AFB. Additionally, some subtle symptoms (i.e., fatigue) may be unrecognized and/or inadequately treated in theater prior to flight home. Symptoms persist for weeks, months, or longer and are very similar to traumatic brain injury symptoms. This may represent a "new" or previously unrecognized post-DCS syndrome.