Diving Hyperb Med
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Ultrasonic detection of venous gas emboli (VGE) in the precordial (PRE) region is commonly used in evaluation of decompression stress. While subclavian (SC) VGE detection can also be used to augment and improve the evaluation, no study has rigorously compared VGE grades from both sites as decompression stress indicators. ⋯ The association of bubble grades with DCS occurrence is stronger for SC than PRE when exposure severity is taken into account. The usefulness of SC VGE in decompression stress evaluation has been underestimated in the past.