Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

NLM Logo

Decompression Sickness MeSH Descriptor Data 2025


MeSH Heading
Decompression Sickness
Tree Number(s)
C26.120.248
Unique ID
D003665
RDF Unique Identifier
http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/D003665
Scope Note
A condition occurring as a result of exposure to a rapid fall in ambient pressure. Gases, nitrogen in particular, come out of solution and form bubbles in body fluid and blood. These gas bubbles accumulate in joint spaces and the peripheral circulation impairing tissue oxygenation causing disorientation, severe pain, and potentially death.
Entry Term(s)
Bends
Caisson Disease
Date Established
1966/01/01
Date of Entry
1999/01/01
Revision Date
2010/06/25
Decompression Sickness Preferred
page delivered in 0.121s