What is the definitive treatment for a patient suffering from air embolism or decompression sickness?

• A. Hyperbaric chamber
• B. Single-dose antibiotics
• C. Oral hydration and rest
• D. CT scan to confirm diagnosis

Answer: (A)

Gas bubbles in the blood or tissues block circulation and cause tissue injury in both air embolism and decompression sickness. The most effective, definitive treatment is therapy in a hyperbaric chamber with 100% oxygen. The high ambient pressure physically compresses the gas bubbles, reducing their size and the obstruction they cause (a direct mechanical effect). At the same time, breathing pure oxygen greatly increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the plasma, improving delivery to hypoxic tissues and speeding the washout of inert nitrogen from the bubbles and tissues. This combination addresses both the physical presence of the bubbles and the resulting oxygen deficiency, making it the treatment that resolves the underlying problem most effectively. Other options like antibiotics, simple hydration, or diagnostic imaging don’t actively reverse the gas-bubble pathology.