Effects of Successive Air and Trimix Dives on Human Cardiovascular Function.

The article presents a study which investigates the impact of successive air and trimix, which is a mixture of oxygen, helium, and nitrogen, dives on the cardiovascular function of nine drivers. The study used echocardiography and subjects performed four dives for successive days with maximum dive depth of 55 meters. The results show a significant decrease on the left ventricular ejection fraction and fractional shortening after each drive. It reveals that the endosystolic volume and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were increased. It concludes that the trimix and air dives yield no significant difference on cardiovascular functioning. It then notes that trimix diving have substantial cardiovascular effects.