Inherent unsaturation in the treatment of pneumothorax at depth.

In discussing the treatment of pneumothorax under pressure, standard diving medicine publications recommend only the insertion of a chest tube before decompression. However, there are marked difficulties in performing surgery in a typical offshore commercial chamber, and present knowledge of chamber bacteriology indicates there is important risk of serious infection. By contrast, the venerable principle of inherent unsaturation and known experimental data permit the rational and safe use of pressure and oxygen breathing to resolve this problem. This should be the treatment of first preference for, even if it is not effective, no other options are closed off. Two representative cases are presented.