Which of the following is the initial oxygen therapy for decompression illness?

Which of the following is the initial oxygen therapy for decompression illness?

• A. 60% O2 via mask
• B. 100% O2 via mask
• C. No oxygen
• D. Nasal cannula with 2 L/min O2

Answer: (B)

Decompression illness requires rapid, maximal oxygen delivery to both support hypoxic tissues and speed nitrogen off-gassing from bubbles. Providing 100% oxygen through a tight-fitting mask achieves the highest FiO2, creating a strong diffusion gradient that helps replace nitrogen in tissues and within gas bubbles with oxygen, accelerating bubble resolution and improving tissue oxygenation. A 60% O2 mask and a nasal cannula at 2 L/min can't supply this level of oxygen concentration, so they’re less effective for this purpose. Not giving oxygen at all would worsen hypoxia and delay recovery. Therefore, the best initial therapy is 100% oxygen via a mask.

Decompression illness requires rapid, maximal oxygen delivery to both support hypoxic tissues and speed nitrogen off-gassing from bubbles. Providing 100% oxygen through a tight-fitting mask achieves the highest FiO2, creating a strong diffusion gradient that helps replace nitrogen in tissues and within gas bubbles with oxygen, accelerating bubble resolution and improving tissue oxygenation. A 60% O2 mask and a nasal cannula at 2 L/min can't supply this level of oxygen concentration, so they’re less effective for this purpose. Not giving oxygen at all would worsen hypoxia and delay recovery. Therefore, the best initial therapy is 100% oxygen via a mask.