Diving emergencies.
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving popularity is increasing tremendously, reaching a total of 9 million people in the US during 2001, and 50,000 in the UK in 1985. Over the past 10 years, new advances, equipment improvements, and improved diver education have made SCUBA diving safer and more enjoyable. Most diving injuries are related to the behaviour of the gases and pressure changes during descent and ascent. The four main pathologies in diving medicine include: barotrauma (sinus, otic, and pulmonary); decompression illness (DCI); pulmonary edema and pharmacological; and toxic effects of increased partial pressures of gases. The clinical manifestations of a diving injury may be seen during a dive or up to 24 h after it. Physicians living far away from diving places are not excluded from the possibility of encountering diver-injured patients and therefore need to be aware of these injuries. This article reviews some of the principles of diving and pathophysiology of diving injuries as well as the acute treatment, and further management of these patients.
DeGorordo
Antonio
A
Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Vallejo-Manzur
Federico
F
Chanin
Katia
K
Varon
Joseph
J
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000293:injuries*; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000925:Anticoagulants