What is Arterial Gas Embolism?
Arterial gas embolism (AGE) is a condition which affects some divers. It is characterized by the appearance of bubbles in the blood which obstruct blood flow. As these bubbles travel through the body, they can cause damage to many major organs, including the brain. AGE is a serious form of decompression sickness, and in addition to appearing in divers, it can also emerge in people who have been subjected to rapid decompression, as for instance when the pressurization in an airplane cabin fails. This condition is caused by the expansion of dissolved gases in the blood. These gases expand as pressure decreases. If the pressure is reduced slowly while the diver breathes normally, dissolved gases can dissipate out naturally. If, however, the pressure is reduced rapidly, the gases expand into bubbles, occluding blood flow. In some cases of arterial gas embolism, the patient also experiences pulmonary barotrauma, where the lungs literally explode because the dissolved gases are expanding so
