A tale of three divers: recompression therapy for divers with severe Type II decompression sickness with neurological deficits.
Decompression sickness (DCS) is manifested in a myriad of symptoms, and can affect any part of the body. It is attributed to the formation of inert gas bubbles in the blood and tissues. Following a diving incident, the pathogenesis of DCS is a result of mechanical obstruction caused by the inert gas bubbles and the body's immunological response to the bubbles. Neurological DCS may present with unusual sensory/motor symptoms that may lead to paralysis. This report describes three divers who suffered severe neurological Type II DCS and underwent recompression therapy at the Naval Hyperbaric Centre in 2007.
Liow
M H
MH
Diving Medicine Section, Naval Underwater Medicine Centre, Navy Medical Service, Republic of Singapore Navy, AFPN 6060, 126 Tanah Merah Coast Road, Singapore. lenenkie@gmail.com
Chong
S J
SJ
Kang
W L
WL
D000328:Adult; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged