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Liz wrote:

> ...  since approx 25% of population
> has PFO there are divers with PFO who are
> asymptomatic.  But those with PFO are at
> greater risk of DCS, embolic events and
> hypoxia.

Why hypoxia?

> The researchers don't feel it
> is necessary to screen all divers before
> certification.  Those with known PFO
> are advised to dive carefully (read, short
> and shallow) if they should dive at all.

A series of tests were run in Scotland about a year ago (I think) where
volunteers submitted themselves for PFO testing. One of those found to
have a PFO was a diver. He was immediately banned from diving by SSAC.
He appealed on the basis that he had been diving for many years without
incident and the fact that his PFO was so small that they had only just
been able to detect it. In fact, they couldn't actually be sure it was
a PFO. I'm not sure about the current state of his appeal.

Alan

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