title: Scuba diving accidents.
abstract: The principal scuba diving medical problems of barotrauma, air embolism and decompression sickness have as their pathophysiologic basis the Ideal Gas Law and Boyle's Law. Hyperbaric chamber recompression therapy is the only definitive treatment of air embolism and decompression sickness. However, with a basic knowledge of diving medicine, the family physician can provide effective supportive care to the patient prior to initiation of hyperbaric therapy.
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000628:therapy; D004242:Diving; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D011312:Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects; D013178:Sports Medicine