ScubaSamScubaStevesFather
Contributor
I’m having difficulty finding a clear answer to this. An earlier thread posed a similar question but no response: Air embolism with empty lungs
My understanding of an AGE event is caused by the lungs physically unable to expand further when exposed to expanding gas within the lungs. Specifically I am referring to the actual physical expansion of the lungs with the diaphragm moving.
If I have relatively empty lungs at 20meters, hold my breath, then ascend to 10meters, would my lungs physically expand (and therefore I would feel my diaphragm move)?
Or would the lungs not physically inflate and therefore an AGE will occur because even though the lungs have the capacity to physically inflate, they don’t and instead the gas enters the arterial system?
From what I’ve read, I infer that the former is true since there are discussions on lung barotrauma, which would indicate an expanding lung, but then again this goes back to the original question: will my lungs physically inflate (along with diaphragm movement) to accommodate the increased gas volume upon ascent?
My understanding of an AGE event is caused by the lungs physically unable to expand further when exposed to expanding gas within the lungs. Specifically I am referring to the actual physical expansion of the lungs with the diaphragm moving.
If I have relatively empty lungs at 20meters, hold my breath, then ascend to 10meters, would my lungs physically expand (and therefore I would feel my diaphragm move)?
Or would the lungs not physically inflate and therefore an AGE will occur because even though the lungs have the capacity to physically inflate, they don’t and instead the gas enters the arterial system?
From what I’ve read, I infer that the former is true since there are discussions on lung barotrauma, which would indicate an expanding lung, but then again this goes back to the original question: will my lungs physically inflate (along with diaphragm movement) to accommodate the increased gas volume upon ascent?