Hyperbaric chamber-related decompression illness in a patient with asymptomatic pulmonary sarcoidosis.
An asymptomatic 46-yr-old male sustained an acute neurologic insult, appearing during the decompression phase of a 50-m dry hyperbaric chamber dive. The right hemisyndrome was most probably related to diving, since symptoms responded rapidly to the early commenced recompression therapy. Further diagnostics revealed a previously unknown pulmonary sarcoidosis with bilateral pulmonary opacities and pleural adhesions that might have predisposed to arterial gas embolism secondary to pulmonary barotrauma. This case may illustrate a potential risk of decompression illness even during dry chamber dives in patients suffering from asymptomatic pleuro-parenchymal pulmonary disease. The value of chest X-ray in the medical assessment of fitness to dive is therefore emphasized.
Tetzlaff
K
K
Naval Medical Institute of the German Navy, Kiel. kaytetz@rd.comcity.de
Reuter
M
M
Kampen
J
J
Lott
C
C
D001706:Biopsy; D015984:Causality; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017565:Sarcoidosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013147:Spirometry; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed