What Is Nitrogen Narcosis?

Nitrogen Narcosis means that nitrogen does not participate in the chemical process of each cell component, but its partial pressure in the blood reaches a certain level, which will produce anesthesia.

Nitrogen anesthesia is a diving disease. Also known as "Sham Shui Yan Kuang". Under certain diving depths, air divers appear to be a pathological state of the nervous system due to the partial pressure of nitrogen. Symptoms often start to appear at a diving depth of about 30 meters, and will develop rapidly afterwards, but due to the large susceptibility of individuals, some can work at a diving depth of 60 meters. Symptoms: initial numbness of lips, overconfidence, excitement, self-talk or anxiety, panic, and other emotional changes, followed by decreased judgment, sluggish thinking, forgetfulness, and often accompanied by euphoria, making the work impossible, Regardless of their own safety, they become unconscious, lethargic, and lose consciousness. Some people believe that the anesthetic ability of neutral gas is related to its relative solubility in adipose tissue. At a certain partial pressure, the more dissolved gas, the greater the effect of anesthesia. Therefore, in modern deep diving, helium or neon, which is less soluble in fat, is used instead of nitrogen. ^[1]

The degree of nitrogen anesthesia has a significant relationship with individual differences. The symptoms of nitrogen anesthesia in people without high-pressure exercise have a strong relationship with partial nitrogen pressure. Clinical manifestations seem drunk. When the nitrogen partial pressure is between 0.32 and 0.44Mpa, patients can have mild euphoria and self-confidence, low efficiency of fine movements, poor self-control, and poor understanding. Patients showed euphoria, talkiness, dizziness, and numb lips when the nitrogen partition was between 0.44 and 0.56Mpa. When the nitrogen partial pressure reaches 0.56 0.68Mpa, memory, computing power and comprehension decline, attention cannot be concentrated, work ability decreases, and physical activity is retarded. When the nitrogen partial pressure reaches 0.68 0.80Mpa, depression and hallucinations will occur, and the orientation and self-control will be extremely poor. Loss of coordination in physical activity and disturbance of consciousness. The partial nitrogen pressure exceeded 0.80Mpa and became lethargic. ^[2]

1. Inhaled air contains a large amount of carbon dioxide, which will increase nitrogen anesthesia.

2. People with diving training are lightly anesthetized by nitrogen.

3 Drinking and fatigue can accelerate and increase nitrogen anesthesia.

When nitrogen anesthesia occurs, it should be decompressed immediately and removed from the high-pressure environment. Give oxygen and rest. ^[2]

1. Strengthen diving and pressurization training.

2. Do not drink alcohol before diving and reduce the carbon dioxide concentration in the inhaled air.

3 For dives longer than 60m, a helium-oxygen mixture should be used instead of air. ^[2]