Undersea Hyperbar M
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Airway obstruction is a relative contraindication to diving. Dive candidates are assessed clinically, and lung function tests evaluate variables such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio. A small number of individuals have a normal FEV1, but a disproportionately large lung capacity, or pulmonary dysanapsis. ⋯ Case 3, a 61-year-old man had an FEV1: 3.49 L (126% predicted), FVC: 7.06 L (216% predicted), and a FEV1/FVC of 49%. This report highlights pulmonary dysanapsis which may be confused with obstructive airway disease and applicants deemed unfit to dive. While pulmonary dysanapsis may increase the risk of airway hyperresponsiveness, there is no evidence of an association with diving-related pulmonary barotrauma.
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Undersea Hyperbar M · Jan 2009
Case ReportsCerebral magnetic resonance imaging of compressed air divers in diving accidents.
To investigate the characteristics of the cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of compressed air divers in diving accidents, we conducted an observational case series study. MRI of brain were examined and analysed on seven cases compressed air divers complicated with cerebral arterial gas embolism CAGE. ⋯ The MRI of brain is an sensitive method for detecting cerebral lesions in compressed air divers in diving accidents. The MRI should be finished on divers in diving accidents within 5 days.
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a primary or adjunctive therapy for a variety of medical disorders including some involving the eye. This paper is the first comprehensive review of HBOT for ocular indications. The authors recommend the following as ocular indications for HBOT: decompression sickness or arterial gas embolism with visual signs or symptoms, central retinal artery occlusion, ocular and periocular gas gangrene, cerebro-rhino-orbital mucormycosis, periocular necrotizing fasciitis, carbon monoxide poisoning with visual sequelae, radiation optic neuropathy, radiation or mitomycin C-induced scleral necrosis, and periorbital reconstructive surgery. ⋯ Because some ocular disorders require rapid administration of HBOT to restore vision, patients with acute vision loss should be considered emergent when they present. Visual acuity should be checked immediately, including vision with pinhole correction. If the patient meets the criteria for emergent HBOT outlined in the paper, normobaric oxygen should be started at the highest inspired oxygen fraction possible until arrangements can be made for HBOT.
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Undersea Hyperbar M · May 2008
The effect of over- or underfilling the soda lime canister on CO2 absorption in two closed-circuit oxygen rebreathers.
O2 diving incidents investigated by our laboratory were related to improper filling of the soda lime canister in closed-circuit oxygen rebreathers. We studied the effect of overfilling or underfilling the canister on CO2 absorption using a continuous flow of 5% CO2. With a full canister in the Oxyger 57, CO2 began to rise at 130-160 min, reaching 1% at 240 min and 1.5% at 270 min. ⋯ For an excess of soda lime, moderate pressure was applied manually to achieve a full canister plus 300 g in the OxyNG 2. The initial rise in CO2 concentration started early, at 60 min with a full canister plus 300 g compared to 150 min with a full canister; 1% CO2 was reached at 120 min, compared to 210 min with a full canister. As the use of rebreathers becomes increasingly widespread in diving, close attention should be paid to proper filling of the soda lime canister.
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Undersea Hyperbar M · Mar 2008
Reliability of new pulse CO-oximeter in victims of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of noninvasive real-time measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) using a pulse CO-oximeter in victims of carbon monoxide poisoning (COP). ⋯ This study documents the precision of the correlation between readings obtained with the noninvasive pulse CO-oximeter and COHb measurements from blood samples. This preliminary result demonstrates that this simple rapid noninvasive technology could be useful before and after arrival at the ED.