decompression

1. The act or process of decompressing.
2. A surgical procedure used to relieve pressure on an organ or part, such as the abdomen, cranium, or spinal cord.

1. a technique used to readapt an individual to normal atmospheric pressure after exposure to higher pressures, as in diving. n 2. the removal of pressure caused by gas or fluid in a body cavity such as the stomach or intestinal tract.

ܖdēkǝmˈpre˜ǝn n. a release of compressing forces, in particular:

a. reduction in air pressure: decompression of the aircraft cabin.

b. a gradual reduction of air pressure on a person who has been experiencing high pressure while diving in order to prevent decompression sickness.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

1. Any medical procedure for relieving pressure or the effects of pressure.

2. The reduction of gas pressure within a body space (for example, during ascent to high altitudes or from deep water to shallow water).

1. the return to normal environmental pressure after exposure to greatly increased pressure.
2. the artificial lowering of barometric pressure, e.g. to simulate high altitude.

• cerebral d. — removal of a flap of the skull and incision of the dura mater for the purpose of relieving intracranial pressure. Decompression can also be accomplished by the intravenous injection of hypertonic solutions, e.g. mannitol, usually accompanied by parenteral corticosteroids.
• gastric d. — by stomach tube or transperitoneal tap. An essential part of treatment for acute gastric dilatation in dogs and horses.

Decompression has several meanings:

• in physics: the release of pressure and is the opposition of physical compression
• in medicine and aviation: decompression sickness
• in non-surgical back pain treatment: herniated disc decompression (a form of treatment for the back, employed by chiropractors)
• in surgery: a procedure used to treat spinal stenosis, carotid artery stenosis or any condition where a structure is being compressed
• in scuba diving:
  • a decompression stop
  • a decompression chamber
  • a decompression buoy
  • a decompression trapeze
  • decompression tables
  • a decompression meter
• in festivals: a winding down decompression party
• in accidents involving pressure vessels such as aircraft: uncontrolled decompression
• in computer science: the action of reversing data compression.
• in comic book storytelling: decompression (comics) is the stylistic choice to tell a story mainly by visuals, with few words
• in psychology, to relax or take time off work (take vacation) [1]
• The episode Decompression (The Outer Limits) of the American television fiction series "The Outer Limits"

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