Unlike pulmonary barotrauma, bubbles from DCS an occur in almost any tissue in the body. When the bubbles develop they often cause compression of nearby blood vessels, lymph vessels and nerves. Compression of a blood vessel can stop flow through that vessel, leading to a lack of oxygen for the tissues that the vessel supports. Lymph vessels carry fluid, that if unable to drain, can cause expansion of the vessel and swelling. Possibly more serious than the first two, is compression of nerves.
Nerves are very sensitive structures and compression can cause pain and impaired function.
In addition to having mechanical complications, bubble formation can have biochemical complications as well. Leukocytes, white blood cells, and platelets, blood clotting cells will aggregate and adhere to bubbles. This can add to existing mechanical problems of obstructed blood flow and swelling. Extreme fatigue, called inappropriate fatigue, can also result from the releasing of potent chemicals by the lungs. When the lungs become overwhelmed by the need to filter out the gas bubbles, they respond by releasing the chemicals.