Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic raised significant concerns about fitness to dive due to potential damage to the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems. Our group previously published guidelines (original and revised) for assessment of these divers. Here, we report a prospective, observational study to evaluate the utility of these guidelines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAerosp Med Hum Perform
January 2023
The U.S. Navy experienced a series of physiological events in aircrew involving primarily the F/A-18 airframe related to rapid decompression of cabin pressures, of which aviation decompression sickness (DCS) was felt to contribute.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Artisanal diving fishermen in Yucatán, Mexico have high rates of decompression sickness as a result of frequently unsafe diving practices with surface supplied compressed air. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of dysbaric osteonecrosis (DON), a type of avascular necrosis, in the most susceptible joints in a cohort of these fishermen.
Methods: We performed radiographs of bilateral shoulders, hips, and knees of 39 fishermen in Mexico and surveyed them about their medical and diving histories.
Scuba diving is a critical activity for commercial industry, military activities, research, and public safety, as well as a passion for many recreational divers. Physicians are expected to provide return-to-diving recommendations after SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection based upon the best available evidence, often drawn from experience with other, similar diseases. Scuba diving presents unique physiologic challenges to the body secondary to immersion, increased pressure and increased work of breathing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Arterial gas embolus (AGE) is a rare complication of esophagoduodenoscopy (EGD) that has been described in only a few case reports in the literature. The exact etiology remains unknown, but many of the cases share some common characteristics.
Case Report: We report the case of a 52-year-old otherwise healthy man who underwent outpatient EGD for a sensation of retained food in his esophagus.
Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been utilized as adjunctive treatment of CNS tumors and for radiation necrosis (RN) with reported success. The safety and efficacy in pediatric patients is less understood.
Methods: Seven patients (ages 10-23 years, six females) were treated with HBOT (3-60 sessions) for either RN (n = 5) or tumor-associated edema (n = 2).
Purpose: Soft-tissue reconstruction is complicated by ischemia and reperfusion injury. Animal trials have documented the independent healing benefits of hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBOP) and stem cell delivery in cutaneous flaps. We explored the role of HBOP and stem cell delivery in flap preconditioning and survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUndersea Hyperb Med
September 2019
Artisanal fishermen around the world employ scuba and surface-supplied diving for their livelihoods and often undergo provocative dive profiles due to economic pressures. Consequently, rates of decompression sickness (DCS) are much greater than in recreational scuba divers. Here we present the case of a surface-supplied diving fisherman from the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, who suffered a significant episode of spinal DCS and underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments, with a favorable outcome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUndersea Hyperb Med
August 2013
Decompression sickness (DCS) and central nervous system oxygen toxicity are inherent risks for "inside" attendants (IAs) of hyperbaric chambers. At the Hyperbaric Medicine Center at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), protocols have been developed for decompressing IAs. Protocol 1: For a total bottom time (TBT) of less than 80 minutes at 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Scuba diving is a very popular and safe sport. Occasionally divers will suffer an injury from barotrauma, decompression sickness or an arterial gas embolism. The history and physical examination are important when determining the etiology of the injury and its subsequent treatment.
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