Identification of professional scuba divers with patent foramen ovale at risk for decompression illness.
Functional and anatomic characteristics of patent foramen ovale (PFO) were investigated in 66 professional scuba divers (41 with and 25 without decompression illness) using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. PFO with right-to-left shunting at rest is associated with decompression illness, particularly the neurologic type. A wider patency diameter together with a higher membrane mobility are associated with the risk of developing the disease in divers with PFO.
Cartoni
Domenico
D
Department of Clinical Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
De Castro
Stefano
S
Valente
Giuliana
G
Costanzo
Corrado
C
Pelliccia
Antonio
A
Beni
Sergio
S
Di Angelantonio
Emanuele
E
Papetti
Federica
F
Vitali Serdoz
Laura
L
Fedele
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004242:Diving; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence