ABSTRACT
Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) of ascent is the most serious of the barotraumas, and causes concern in all types of diving operations. It is the clinical manifestation of Boyle's law as it affects the lungs and is the result of overdistension and rupture of the lungs by expanding gases during ascent. It is also called 'burst lung' or pulmonary overinflation. It happens in both compressed-air divers and submariners, especially when exposed to free ascent or buoyant ascent training. Free ascent refers to an ascent without equipment; buoyant ascent refers to an ascent using specialized buoyancy equipment.
