Platelet Hyperaggregation and Morphological Changes by Electron Microscopy in Simulated Dive

Dysbaric osteonecrosis and electroencephalogram (EEG) disturbances prompted the previous studies already submitted at Argentine Society of Haematology on the Scientific Meeting at 1982 and on the First Haemotherapy and ImmunoHaematology Argentine Congress at Buenos Aires in 1986. We will describe the study of platelet aggregation and platelet morphological changes by electron microscopy before and after of simulated dive in hyperbaric chamber without the addition of aspirin (ASA). Materials and Methods: One hundred thirty (130) divers were studied at the Argentina Navy Submarine and Diving School (AA), in groups of ten (10) during the training courses required by the AA. Air was used as the breathing gas and all the dives were at a max depth of 39 meters (4.9 ATA- Absolute atmospheres) with a decompression was made according to US Navy Decompression Tables in use in the AA. First decompression stop at 6 meters (1.6 ATA) for 10 minutes and the second stop at 3 meters (1.3 ATA) for 25 minutes. Partial pressure of oxygen (Pp O2) remained constant at the bottom to 1.03 ATA and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pp CO2) below 0,025 ATA. Blood was obtained in sodium citrate Na 3.2% at a rate of 1:9 citrate / blood Conclusion: We found that the simulated dive in vivo produces hyper aggregation and morphological changes in platelet in divers who did not take ASA.