Evaluation of safety of hypobaric decompressions and EVA from positions of probabilistic theory

• Published in: Acta astronautica Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 139 - 158
• Main Author: Nikolaev, V.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 1998
• Subjects: Aerospace Medicine; Astronauts; Decompression - adverse effects; Decompression - methods; Decompression Sickness - epidemiology; Decompression Sickness - etiology; Embolism, Air - epidemiology; Embolism, Air - etiology; Extravehicular Activity; Humans; Incidence; Models, Statistical; Probability Theory; Risk Assessment; Russia; Space Flight; Space life sciences; Space Simulation; Space Suits; United States; Weightlessness; United States; Russia
• ISSN: 0094-5765; 1879-2030
• DOI: 10.1016/S0094-5765(98)00113-1

Formation and subsequent evolution of gas bubbles in blood and tissues of subjects exposed to decompression are casual processes in their nature. Such character of bubbling processes in a body predetermines probabilistic character of decompression sickness (DCS) incidence in divers, aviators and astronauts. Our original probabilistic theory of decompression safety is based on stochastic models of these processes and on the concept of critical volume of a free gas phase in body tissues. From positions of this theory, the probability of DCS incidence during single-stage decompressions and during hypobaric decompressions under EVA in particular, is defined by the distribution of possible values of nucleation efficiency in “pain” tissues and by its critical significance depended on the parameters of a concrete decompression. In the present study the following is shown: 1) the dimensionless index of critical nucleation efficiency for “pain” body tissues is a more adequate index of decompression stress in comparison with Tissue Ratio, TR; 2) a priory the decompression under EVA performed according to the Russian protocol is more safe than decompression under EVA performed in accordance with the U.S. protocol; 3) the Russian space suit operated at a higher pressure and having a higher “rigidity” induces a stronger inhibition of mechanisms of cavitation and gas bubbles formation in tissues of a subject located in it, and by that provides a more considerable reduction of the DCS risk during real EVA performance.