Mailing List Archive

Mailing List: techdiver

Message Display

There have been several postings about people getting DCS hits from
relatively benign-sounding dives.  What strikes me is whether some
of these could in fact have been due to arterial gas embolism (AGE).
The presentation of the patient, and corresponding treatment, for serious 
Type II DCS and AGE are essentially the same, so that (I understand) the
diagnosing physician may not bother to distinguish the two.  AGE is something
most divers think about as a problem either for novices who hold their breath,
or for experienced divers who have lost bouyancy control.

Now despite what beginning divers are taught, most experienced divers in fact
hold their breath, usually for fine bouyancy control.  In shallow water, this
can lead to embolism.  I remember hearing about an experienced diver who
embolized while being washed over a coral head in surge (I think this was
in Skindiver several years ago - back while I still read the "Foremost
Authority in its Field").  I have also heard about people embolizing while 
doing the 10 fsw stop in heavy seas.  

It's possible that AGE was the source of trouble in the cases previously
posted on this mailing list.

John
jheimann@sc*.gt*.co*

Navigate by Author: [Previous] [Next] [Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject: [Previous] [Next] [Subject Search Index]

[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]

[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]