Long-term neurological sequelae after decompression sickness in retired professional divers.

Introduction: Decompression sickness (DCS) has traditionally been categorized as type I DCS, affecting joints and skin, and type II affecting the nervous system. In the present study, we wanted to examine whether divers with a history of neurological DCS demonstrated a pattern of symptoms and clinical neurological and neurophysiological signs different from divers with other manifestations of DCS or no history of DCS.

Methods: Up to 1990, 365 Norwegian offshore divers worked in the North Sea.

[Severe delirium after GHB abuse].

Background: The management of benzodiazepine-resistant GHB withdrawal requires careful consideration of GHB pharmacodynamics.

Case Presentation: A young woman was admitted with tachycardia, confusion, agitation and delusions the day after attempting to quit a daily, high-dose GHB habit. A total of 225 mg of diazepam had no effect.

Prevalence and causes of loss of consciousness in former North Sea occupational divers.

Background: Loss of consciousness (LOC) is a serious event during diving. The purpose of this study wasto estimate the prevalence and causes of LOC during diving in former North Sea divers, and the impacton health-related quality of life.

Materials And Methods: Up to 1990 a total of 373 Norwegian offshore divers worked in the North Sea.

Risk of misclassification of decompression sickness.

Decompression sickness (DCS) is classified on the basis of which organ system is affected, and neurological DCS is considered more severe than DCS in joints and skin with respect to response to recompression treatment and risk of long-term sequelae. Gas bubble formation interstitially in the tissues or in the circulation is considered to be the mechanism for all types of DCS. Ten patients diagnosed as having DCS in joints or skin, by doctors experienced in diving medicine, underwent clinical examination by a neurologist and had an electroencephalogram.

Cerebral diffusion and perfusion deficits in North Sea divers.

Background: Diving is associated with a risk of cerebral decompression illness, and the prevalence of neurological symptoms is higher in divers compared with control groups. Microvascular dysfunction due to gas microembolism and exposure to hyperoxia are possible mechanisms, which may result in cerebral diffusion and perfusion deficits.

Purpose: To investigate if possible functional derangements of the microvasculature and microstructure would be more prevalent among symptomatic divers.