CHAPTER 21 — Recompression Therapy
21-17
21-5.4.5.9
Sleeping, Resting, and Eating. At least two tenders should be available when
using Treatment Table 7, and three may be necessary for severely ill patients. Not
all tenders are required to be in the chamber, and they may be locked in and out as
required following appropriate decompression tables. The patient may sleep
anytime except when breathing oxygen deeper than 30 feet. While asleep, the
patient’s pulse, respiration, and blood pressure should be monitored and recorded
at intervals appropriate to the patient’s condition. Food may be taken at any time
and fluid intake should be maintained as outlined in paragraph 21-5.5.7.
21-5.4.5.10
Ancillary Care. Patients on Treatment Table 7 requiring intravenous and/or drug
therapy should have these administered in accordance with paragraph 21-5.5.7 and
paragraph 21-5.5.7.1.
21-5.4.5.11
Life Support. Before committing to a Treatment Table 7, the life-support consid-
erations in paragraph 21-5.6 must be addressed. Do not commit to a Treatment
Table 7 if the internal chamber temperature cannot be maintained at 85°F (29.4°C)
or less (paragraph 21-5.6.5).
21-5.4.5.12
Abort Procedures. In some cases, a Treatment Table 7 may have to be terminated
early. If extenuating circumstances dictate early decompression and less than 12
hours have elapsed since treatment was begun, decompression may be accom-
plished using the appropriate 60-foot Air Decompression Table as modified
below. The 60-foot Air Decompression Tables may be used even if time was spent
between 60 and 165 feet (e.g., on Table 4 or 6A), as long as at least 3 hours have
elapsed since the last excursion below 60 feet. If less than 3 hours have elapsed, or
if any time was spent below 165 feet, use the Air Decompression Table appro-
priate to the maximum depth attained during treatment. All stops and times in the
Air Decompression Table should be followed, but oxygen-breathing periods
should be started for all chamber occupants as soon as a depth of 30 feet is
reached. All chamber occupants should continue oxygen-breathing periods of 25
minutes on 100 percent oxygen, followed by 5 minutes on air, until the total time
breathing oxygen is one-half or more of the total decompression time.
If more than 12 hours have elapsed since treatment was begun, the decompression
schedule of Treatment Table 7 shall be used. In extreme emergencies, the abort
recommendations (paragraph 21-8) may be used if more than 12 hours have
elapsed since beginning treatment.
21-5.4.6
Treatment Table 8. Treatment Table 8 is an adaptation of a Royal Navy Treat-
ment Table 65 mainly for treating deep uncontrolled ascents (see Volume 3) when
more than 60 minutes of decompression have been missed. Compress symptom-
atic patient to depth of relief not to exceed 225 fsw. Initiate Treatment Table 8
from depth of relief. The Table 8 schedule from 60 feet is the same as Treatment
Table 7.
21-5.4.7
Treatment Table 9. Treatment Table 9 is a hyperbaric oxygen treatment table
using 90 minutes of oxygen at 45 feet. This table is recommended by the Diving
Medical Officer cognizant of the patient’s medical condition. Treatment Table 9 is
used for the following:
