title: Recreational scuba diving in patients with congenital heart disease: Time for new guidelines.
abstract: The number of recreational scuba divers is steadily increasing. In its latest recommendations, the French Federation of Undersea Studies and Sports listed congenital heart disease as a formal and final contraindication to scuba diving. On the other hand, with the progress made in their management, the prognosis and quality of life of patients with congenital heart diseases have improved considerably, enabling them to engage in physical and sports endeavours, which are known to confer general health and psychological benefits. As a consequence, the ability of these patients to dive has become a regular and recurrent issue. We review the various types of scuba diving, the physical performance required for its practice, its effects on cardiovascular function and the elements that need to be considered before recommending whether it can be practiced safely at various levels of difficulty. Because of the diversity and broad heterogeneity of congenital heart diseases, a detailed evaluation of each patient's performance based on clinical criteria common to all congenital heart diseases is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Rennes University Health Centre, Cardiology and Vascular Diseases Division, Rennes, France; Inserm, U1099, université de Rennes 1, LTSI, Rennes, France. Electronic address: jean.marc.schleich@chu.rennes.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schleich
authors.affiliation: Rennes University Health Centre, Sports Medicine Division; Physiology Laboratories, Rennes-1 University, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.affiliation: Mediwald, Creutzwald, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brouant
authors.affiliation: Levallois-Perret, France.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.affiliation: Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lafay
authors.affiliation: Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology, Strasbourg University Health Centre, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bonnemains
authors.affiliation: Rennes University Health Centre, Cardiology and Vascular Diseases Division, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bédossa
mesh_terms: D004242:Diving / Q000502:physiology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D057173:Recreation Therapy / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Cardiopathies congénitales; Congenital heart disease; Health recommendations; Plongée sous-marine; Recommandations médicales; Recreational underwater diving; Scuba diving; Sports aquatiques; Water sports