Air embolism with bilateral pneumothorax after a five-meter dive.
After an emergency ascent from very shallow depth, a diver suffered a triad of symptoms after bilateral barotrauma of the lungs: air embolism with subsequent paraparesis, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pneumothorax. This is the first case of its kind in 20 yr of experience in the hyperbaric center at Graz. The patient was successfully treated by recompression with HBO.
Friehs
I
I
Department of Thoracic and Hyperbaric Surgery, University of Graz, Medical School, Austria.
Friehs
G M
GM
Friehs
G B
GB
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004242:Diving; D004322:Drainage; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy