title: Descriptive epidemiology of 153 diving injuries with rebreathers among French military divers from 1979 to 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rebreathers are routinely used by military divers, which lead to specific diving injuries. At present, there are no published epidemiologic data in this field of study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Diving disorders with rebreathers used in the French army were retrospectively analyzed since 1979 using military and medical reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-three accidents have been reported, with an estimated incidence rate of 1 event per 3,500 to 4,000 dives. Gas toxicities were the main disorders (68%). Loss of consciousness was present in 54 cases, but only 3 lethal drowning were recorded. Decompression sicknesses (13%) were exclusively observed using 30 and 40% nitrox mixtures for depth greater than 35 msw. Eleven cases of immersion pulmonary edema were also noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gas toxicities are frequently encountered by French military divers using rebreathers, but the very low incidence of fatalities over 30 years can be explained by the strict application of safety diving procedures.
authors.affiliation: French Armed Forces Health Service, Department of Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine, Sainte Anne's Military Hospital, BP 20545, 83041 Toulon cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gempp
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Louge
authors.forename: Jean-Eric
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Blatteau
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hugon
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004242:Diving / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000293:injuries*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000009:adverse effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000009:adverse effects; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C041364:nitrox; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen