Arterial Compliance in Divers Exposed to Repeated Hyperoxia Using Rebreather Equipment
Résumé
compliance in divers exposed to repeated hyperoxia using rebreather equipment. Aviat Space Environ Med 2009; 80: 482 – 4. Background: Acute hyperoxic exposure is known to modify cardio-vascular parameters like a decrease in cardiac output, arterial vasocon-striction, and autonomic nervous system changes. We hypothesized that repeated hyperbaric hyperoxic exposures, as experienced by military oxygen divers, lead to long-term arterial alterations. Methods: Arterial blood pressure measurements and pulse wave velocity (PWV) recordings were performed during basal conditions in 15 elite military oxygen divers, and compared to 15 non-diver controls. The two groups were matched appropriately for physical characteristics (age: 35 6 5 yr, weight: 77 6 8 kg, height: 177 6 6 cm, body mass index: 24.6 6 2.0 kg z m 2 2), and aerobic capacity (V O 2 max : 52 6 7 ml z min 2 1 z kg 2 1). Results: No signifi cant difference was found in systolic blood pressure (120 6 11 mmHg), dia-stolic blood pressure (70 6 8 mmHg), or pulse pressure (50 6 7 mmHg). Furthermore, there was no signifi cant difference in the carotid-femoral PWV (6.7 6 0.9 m z s 2 1), the carotid-radial PWV (8.7 6 1.7 m z s 2 1), or the carotid-pedal PWV (8.1 6 1.1 m z s 2 1) between divers and controls. Conclusion: No difference in arterial compliance was observed in physically well-trained military oxygen divers in comparison with matched controls.