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# > > ...  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?

# Because a PFO allow blood to bypass the pulmonary circuit, thereby avoiding
# oxygenation before returning to the main body circuit. If the PFO is severe
# enough and the physical demands on the diver sufficient, this can result in
# a shortage of oxygen in the bloodstream that can manifest itself as hypoxia.

I'm not a physician, but my (limited) understanding of PFO suggests that
a case sever enough to effect the oxygenation of blood is going to also
manifest itself in other ways that would preclude the individual from
diving in the first place.

I pointed Liz in the direction of Dr. Alfred Bove. He is the Chief of
Cardiology at the Temple University Medical School. Last year at Ocean
Awareness 1992 he gave a talk on diving and PFO and on diving after by-pass
surgery. For more in-depth and detailed info on PFO, scrounge up Dr. Bove's
papers on the subject.

Would the greater risk of an embolic event still be an issue if a diver
follows one of the new No Bubble tables? 


-Joseph Crunk
 joseph@sm*.co*

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