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Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 11:54:16 +0000
Subject: Heart Disease Contraindications to Diving
From: Joel Markwell <joeldm@mi*.co*>
To: Techdiver <techdiver@aq*.co*>
CC: Cavers <cavers@cavers.com>
In researching the aspirin/ibuprofen prevention of DCS I came across this in
the 23rd Annual Meeting of the European Underwater and Baromedical Society
abstracts:

CARDIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS. E. Schenk. Vienna, Austria.

SCUBA diving requires physiological adaptation as a consequence of the
increased ambient pressure, changes in partial pressure of oxygen, breathing
resistance and water temperature. Cardiac arrhythmias, bradyarrhythmias
(sinus node dysfunction, AV conduction disturbances) or tachyarrhythmias
(with or without premature complexes) may occur during SCUBA diving.
Patients with arrhythmias Lowe III/IV using a bicycle ergometer, second
degree AV block (Wenckebach) or third degree AV block, bifascicular block
and syncope, must not SCUBA dive. Also, patients with ischaemic heart
disease. Recently, myocardial infarction during SCUBA diving was attributed
as the cause of death in a 27 year old diver, with undiagnosed severe
endomyocardial fibrosis and arrhythmia. Patients with systolic and diastolic
murmur must have a Doppler echocardiogarphy and a Doppler flow
echocardiogarphy before being allowed to dive. Valve regurgitation without
hemodynamic importance during exercise requires regular echocardiography.
Most patients with mitral valve problems are asymptomatic, but some might be
prone to paroxysmal supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia.
CONCLUSIONS: In many cases, complete medical history, conscientious
inspection and examination; electrocardiogram and roentgenogram should
provide evidence of any cardiological problems. Occasionally, other methods
such as echocardiography will be necessary. 

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