A review of diving practices and outcomes following the diagnosis of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale in compressed air divers with a documented episode of decompression sickness.

Introduction: The presence of a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO) increases the risk of decompression sickness (DCS) whilst diving with pressurised air. After the diagnosis of a PFO, divers will be offered a number of options for risk mitigation. The aim of this study was to review the management choices and modifications to diving practices following PFO diagnosis in the era preceding the 2015 joint position statement (JPS) on PFO and diving.

Digital nerve blocks: More gain with less pain.

Digital nerve blocks are commonly used and effective techniques for achieving anaesthesia of the digit for the purposes of enabling a variety of surgical procedures to be performed. Several techniques have been described including the traditional method, the metacarpal block and the transthecal approach. We favour the traditional technique, and describe a variation of the technique.