Divers treated in Townsville, Australia: worse symptoms lead to poorer outcomes.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is considered definitive treatment for decompression illness. Delay to HBOT may be due to dive site remoteness and limited facility availability. Review of cases may help identify factors contributing to clinical outcomes.

Comment on Loddé et al. Does Decreased Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs for Carbon Monoxide Constitute a Risk of Decompression Sickness in Occupational Divers? 2023, , 6516.

This letter addresses errors in the statistical analysis found in a paper addressing pulmonary diffusing capacity and decompression sickness. Our re-analysis could not confirm any of the significant statistical contrasts described for the bubble data, invalidating the speculation on the relationships between bubble scores and decompression sickness.

Arterial dissection in scuba divers: a potential adverse manifestation of the physiological effects of immersion.

Introduction: Aortic dissections and dissections of cervical, cerebral, and coronary arteries have been previously reported in scuba divers. These incidents may be the consequence of a variety of physiological effects. We review the reported cases of arterial dissection in scuba divers and discuss potential contributing factors related to immersion and diving.

Rebreather Forum Four consensus statements.

Closed circuit rebreathers have been widely adopted by technical divers as tools for reducing gas consumption and extending depth and duration capabilities. Rebreathers are technologically complex with many failure points, and their use appears associated with a higher accident rate than open circuit scuba. Rebreather Forum Four (RF4) was held in Malta in April 2023 attracting approximately 300 attendees and representatives of multiple manufacturers and training agencies.

Practical Guidance for Crafting Original Research Manuscripts.

Scientific writing relies on an extensive array of written and unwritten rules to balance clarity, relevance, and economy. Careful development can strengthen each element of original research manuscripts. Some strategies are straightforward, including general organization and compliance with submission guidelines.

Gender Equity in Membership, Leadership, and Award Recognition in the Wilderness Medical Society.

Introduction: Despite near gender parity for women entering medical careers, women remain underrepresented in medical societies. This study evaluated the gender distribution associated with Wilderness Medical Society (WMS) activities.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on the gender breakdown of the following WMS members: a single-day 2020 snapshot, conference attendees 2012 through 2020, conference presenters from winter 2017 through winter 2021, and leadership and awards data from 1984 through 2021.

Gender Distribution Associated With the Journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.

Introduction: Publication and peer review are fundamental to career advancement in science and academic medicine. Studies demonstrate that women are underrepresented in science publishing. We evaluated the gender distribution of contributors to Wilderness & Environmental Medicine (WEM) from 2010 through 2019.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction.

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is available to a wide spectrum of patients, many with significant co-morbidities. Considering its effects on cardiac physiology and reports of pulmonary oedema following exposure, concerns exist about the safety of patients with compromised cardiac function. Few studies have described adverse events occurring during HBOT and even fewer reports address events arising in the hours following HBOT.

Retrospective review of enquiries to the Québec diving medicine call centre: 2004 through 2018.

Introduction: The Centre de Médecine de Plongée du Québec (CMPQ) established a bilingual 24-hour dive emergency call line and diving medicine information service in 2004. The toll-free number (888-835-7121) works throughout Canada. Calls and emails (cmpq.

Evidence Supporting the Management of Medical Conditions During Long-Duration Spaceflight: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Future long-duration space exploration missions, such as traveling to Mars, will create an increase in communication time delays and disruptions and remove the viability of emergency returns to Earth for timely medical treatment. Thus, higher levels of medical autonomy are necessary. Crew selection is proposed as the first line of defense to minimize medical risk for future missions; however, the second proposed line of defense is medical preparedness and crew member autonomy.

Recreational diving in persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: Advancing capabilities and recommendations.

Diving by persons with diabetes has long been conducted, with formal guidelines published in the early 1990s. Subsequent consensus guidelines produced following a 2005 workshop helped to advance the recognition of relevant issues and promote discussion. The guidelines were intended as an interim step in guidance, with the expectation that revisions should follow the gathering of additional data and experience.

Comparison of tissue oxygenation achieved breathing oxygen using different delivery devices and flow rates.

Introduction: Divers with suspected decompression illness require high concentration oxygen (O₂). There are many different O₂ delivery devices, with few data comparing their performance. This study evaluated O₂ delivery, using tissue O₂ partial pressure (PO₂), in healthy divers breathing O₂ via three different delivery devices.