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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebullism | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebullism | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T07:28:17.583213+00:00 | kb-cron |
== Treatment and outcomes == Ebullism produces secondary tissue damage which, when extensive, has generally been considered fatal due to limited availability of treatment options on site. Immediate recompression to a pressure at minimum pressure for effective oxygenation is necessary for survival in whole-body exposure, along with re-oxygenation. Continued or additional pressurisation where necessary to prevent or treat decompression sickness is also indicated. High-frequency percussive ventilation is recommended by Murray et al (2013) for respiratory support as atelectasis is likely. Initial field evaluation would be similar to trauma assessment. It may be necessary to remove a pressure suit to give access for primary and secondary surveys. Airway, breathing, and circulation are immediate priorities, followed by assessment of level of consciousness. Intubation is indicated if unconscious and deteriorating. If a pulse cannot be distinguished, and the person is unresponsive, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be started immediately, with advanced cardiac life support and cardiovascular monitoring as soon as possible. Little information is available on the effectiveness of conventional treatment, such as hyperbaric oxygen, or adjunctive therapies, for injuries due to ebullism. Spontaneous recovery has occurred in cases where recompression was applied with minimal delay, or the damage was restricted to parts of the limbs. Other examples were fatal. The time needed for recovery will depend on the severity of injury, which is largely dependent on severity and duration of exposure. The main predictor of survival is the establishment of sufficient circulation and breathing.
== Epidemiology == Ebullism risk is associated with spaceflight, particularly EVA accidents, rapid decompression of aircraft at very high altitudes, and pressure suit failure during flight and training exercises.
=== History === In 1960, Joseph Kittinger experienced localised ebullism during a 31 kilometres (19 mi) ascent in a helium-supported gondola. His right-hand glove failed to pressurise and his hand expanded to roughly twice its normal volume accompanied by disabling pain. His hand took about three hours to recover after his return to the ground. Tissue samples from the remains of the crew of Space Shuttle STS-107 Columbia revealed evidence of ebullism. Given the level of tissue damage, the crew could not have regained consciousness even with re-pressurization.
== Etymology == The term "space ebullism" was introduced by Captain Julian E. Ward in his paper "The True Nature of the Boiling of Body Fluids in Space", published in Aviation Medicine in October 1956. It was suggested "because the word ebullism does not connote the addition of heat to produce vapor." It comes from the Latin ebullire, meaning "to bubble out, or to boil up."
== See also == Decompression sickness – Disorder caused by dissolved gases forming bubbles in tissues Effect of spaceflight on the human body – Medical issues associated with spaceflight High altitude breathing apparatus – Equipment which allows the user to breathe at hypoxic altitudesPages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets Pressure suit – Protective suit worn in low-pressure environments Space suit – Garment worn to protect a human in space Uncontrolled decompression – Unplanned drop in the pressure of a sealed system Armstrong limit – Altitude above which water boils at body temperature
== References ==