Dynamics of dissolution of gas bubbles or pockets in tissues

Abstract

A mathematical model is developed which describes the dynamic characteristics of gas bubbles in subcutaneous tissues. Consideration is given to both inert and reacting gases. The effects of blood perfusion (or oxygen consumption in the tissue in dead animals), diffusion of the dissolved gases, a creep process occuring in the tissue, and thermodynamic behavior of the gases in the cavity on the dissolution of the gas bubbles are taken into account. The stress-strain relation of the tissues in creep is described by the standard linear model of viscoelasticity. The theoretical analysis is presented in three categories: (i) tissue creep controlled, (ii) mass transfer controlled and (iii) the intermediate case where both mechanisms are of comparable importance. A close agreement is obtained between the theoretical predictions and the existing experimental data for subcutaneous inert gas pockets in air breathing rats.