Right ventricular alterations in scuba divers: findings on electrocardiography and echocardiography.
BACKGROUND
Scuba diving imposes uncommon environmental stresses. This study assesses the effects of recreational scuba diving on the electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram and compares them with those of normal controls.


METHODS
We studied 50 recreational scuba divers and 50 age-matched and sex-matched normal control subjects. Each subject had a medical history, physical examination, resting 12-lead ECG, and transthoracic echocardiogram.


RESULTS
Electrocardiographic findings occurring significantly more frequently in scuba divers than in controls were sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, QRS duration (> or = 0.10 sec, right axis duration and R > or =S in V2. The mean right ventricular internal dimension (RVID) was significantly larger in divers than in controls. High-normal RVID (2.0 to 2.3 cm) occurred significantly more regularly in divers than in controls (10 vs 1).


CONCLUSIONS
Recreational scuba diving produced right ventricular alterations characterized by chamber dilation and electrocardiographic signs of right ventricular hypertrophy, sinus bradycardia, and arrhythmia.
Division of Cardiology, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, USA.
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B
Mukerji
M A
MA
Alpert
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V
Mukerji
D000328:Adult; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000503:physiopathology; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D017380:Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*