nitrogen embolism

nitrogen embolism

An air embolism-like event causing decompression sickness (“the bends”) in deep-sea divers who surface too rapidly. Nitrogen “boils” in vessels or tissues, causing joint and abdominal pain; if it affects the brain, it may be fatal.

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nitrogen embolism

An air embolism-like event, which causes the 'bends' in divers who surface too rapidly; nitrogen 'boils' in vessels or tissues, causing joint and abdominal pain; if it affects the brain, it may be fatal. See the Bends, Caisson's disease, Embolism, Nitrogen narcosis.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.