Which treatments are included in the management of Decompression Illness?

Recompression is a fundamental aspect of the management of decompression illness, often referred to as decompression sickness. This condition occurs when a diver ascends too quickly, causing nitrogen bubbles to form in the body's tissues due to a rapid decrease in pressure. The mainstay treatment for this illness involves the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, where the patient is placed in a hyperbaric chamber to breathe pure oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. This environment helps to reduce the size of the nitrogen bubbles, allows for the diffusion of nitrogen out of the tissues, and alleviates symptoms by restoring adequate oxygen levels to those affected tissues.

The other treatments listed—hydration therapy, electrotherapy, and heat application—do not play a primary role in the management of decompression illness. While hydration can be important for overall recovery and maintaining bodily functions, it is not a specific treatment for the condition itself, nor does it address the underlying issues caused by decompression. Electrotherapy has limited application in decompression sickness and is not standard practice. Heat application can sometimes help with certain types of pain or discomfort but is also not a recognized treatment for decompression illness, which specifically requires the controlled conditions provided by recompression therapy.