decompression sickness

decompression sickness

noun

Definition of DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS

: a sometimes fatal disorder that is marked by neuralgic pains and paralysis, distress in breathing, and often collapse and that is caused by the release of gas bubbles (as of nitrogen) in tissue upon too rapid decrease in air pressure after a stay in a compressed atmosphere—called also bends, caisson disease, decompression illness, decompression syndrome; see aeroembolism