Korean J Sports Med.  2013 Jun;31(1):30-33. 10.5763/kjsm.2013.31.1.30.

Pulmonary Involvement in Decompression Sickness of a Self Contained Underwater Breath Apparatus Diver

• Lee SW
• Shim SS
• Choi J
• Kim Y

• KMID: 1838971
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2013.31.1.30

Abstract

Decompression sickness is a self contained underwater breath apparatus (SCUBA)-related injury with various symptoms and is considered an extreme emergency condition. This is a case of pulmonary involvement in decompression sickness in a 26-year-old SCUBA diver. Although pulmonary involvement in decompression sickness is a potentially severe condition that requires immediate treatment, this condition can be under- or misdiagnosed, and evaluation of this disease by imaging findings is not clearly understood. We experienced a case of pulmonary involvement in decompression sickness and herein present the chest computed tomography and simple radiograph findings associated with this condition.

Keyword

Self contained underwater breath apparatus diving; Dyspnea; Decompression sickness

MeSH Terms

Decompression
Decompression Sickness
Dyspnea
Emergencies
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Initial chest radiography shows patchy increased opacities in both lower lung zones.

• 

  Fig. 2. Chest computed tomography scan shows patchy ground-glass opacities in the right-middle lobe, both lower lobes, and a small portion of the right-upper lobe.

• 

  Fig. 3. Chest radiography obtained 4 days after that pre-sented in Fig. 1 shows complete resolution of pulmonary edema.

Reference

References

1. McMullin AM. Scuba diving: what you and your patients need to know. Cleve Clin J Med. 2006; 73:711–2.

2. Salahuddin M, James LA, Bass ES. SCUBA medicine: a first-responder's guide to diving injuries. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2011; 10:134–9.

3. Klingmann C, Gonnermann A, Dreyhaupt J, Vent J, Praetorius M, Plinkert PK. Decompression illness reported in a survey of 429 recreational divers. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2008; 79:123–8.

4. Fitz-Clarke JR. Risk of decompression sickness in extreme human breathhold diving. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2009; 36:83–91.

5. Rozali A, Khairuddin H, Sherina MS, Zin BM, Sulaiman A. Decompression illness secondary to occupational diving: recommended management based current legistation and practice in Malaysia. Med J Malaysia. 2008; 63:166–9.

6. Sammut MA, Cassar A, Felice H. Coronary artery air embolism causing pulmonary edema secondary to acute coronary syndrome in a diver. J Invasive Cardiol. 2008; 20:E331–3.

7. Slade JB Jr, Hattori T, Ray CS, Bove AA, Cianci P. Pulmonary edema associated with scuba diving: case reports and review. Chest. 2001; 120:1686–94.

8. Gao GK, Wu D, Yang Y, et al. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging of compressed air divers in diving accidents. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2009; 36:33–41.

9. Huh JT. Study of radiological findings and management of decompression sickness. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 1999; 10:667–79.

10. Park IC, Park SG, Han J, Choi BS, Kim HD. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in decompression sickness. J Korean Soc Emerg Med. 1999; 10:97–107.