title: Evidence for increasing patency of the foramen ovale in divers.
abstract: Using a standardized contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiographic technique, a group of divers was reexamined for the presence and size of patent foramen ovale (PFO) 7 years after their initial examinations. Unexpected but significant increases in the prevalence and size of PFO were found, suggesting a possible increasing risk for decompression sickness in these divers over time.
authors.affiliation: Center for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Brussels, Belgium. peter.germonpre@mil.be
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Germonpre
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hastir
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dendale
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marroni
authors.forename: Anne-Florence
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balestra
mesh_terms: D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors