Which item is included in the S-132 decompression illness protocol?

Which item is included in the S-132 decompression illness protocol?

• A. Ventilate PRN
• B. 100% O2 via mask
• C. Spinal stabilization PRN
• D. Warming PRN, remove wetsuit

Answer: (B)

In decompression illness, the top priority is to maximize oxygen delivery to tissues and promote the off-gassing of inert nitrogen that has formed bubbles. Giving 100% oxygen as soon as possible achieves this by increasing the amount of oxygen carried in the blood and creating a diffusion gradient that helps nitrogen dissolve out of tissues and bubbles more quickly. Providing high-concentration oxygen via a mask is the most effective and rapid intervention before definitive care, such as hyperbaric recompression, can be provided. Other options aren’t the central therapeutic action for decompression illness. Spinal stabilization is aimed at trauma care and isn’t a defining step of the DCI protocol. Warming and wetsuit removal can be part of general patient comfort or situational care, but they don’t address the crucial gas-bubble pathology as directly as administering 100% oxygen does. Ventilation alone without delivering high-concentration oxygen misses the key mechanism needed to improve outcomes in DCI. So, delivering 100% oxygen via a mask stands as the essential, best-supported treatment in the S-132 decompression illness protocol.

In decompression illness, the top priority is to maximize oxygen delivery to tissues and promote the off-gassing of inert nitrogen that has formed bubbles. Giving 100% oxygen as soon as possible achieves this by increasing the amount of oxygen carried in the blood and creating a diffusion gradient that helps nitrogen dissolve out of tissues and bubbles more quickly. Providing high-concentration oxygen via a mask is the most effective and rapid intervention before definitive care, such as hyperbaric recompression, can be provided.

Other options aren’t the central therapeutic action for decompression illness. Spinal stabilization is aimed at trauma care and isn’t a defining step of the DCI protocol. Warming and wetsuit removal can be part of general patient comfort or situational care, but they don’t address the crucial gas-bubble pathology as directly as administering 100% oxygen does. Ventilation alone without delivering high-concentration oxygen misses the key mechanism needed to improve outcomes in DCI.

So, delivering 100% oxygen via a mask stands as the essential, best-supported treatment in the S-132 decompression illness protocol.