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German Medical Science : GMS E-journal 2023For the purposes of this guideline, a diving accident is defined as an event that is either potentially life-threatening or hazardous to health as a result of a...
For the purposes of this guideline, a diving accident is defined as an event that is either potentially life-threatening or hazardous to health as a result of a reduction in ambient pressure while diving or in other hyperbaric atmospheres with and without diving equipment. This national consensus-based guideline (development grade S2k) presents the current state of knowledge and recommendations on the diagnosis and treatment of diving accident victims. The treatment of a breath-hold diver as well as children and adolescents does not differ in principle. In this regard only unusual tiredness and itching without visible skin changes are mild symptoms. The key action statements: on-site 100% oxygen first aid treatment, immobilization/no unnecessary movement, fluid administration and telephone consultation with a diving medicine specialist are recommended. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) remains unchanged as the established treatment in severe cases, as there are no therapeutic alternatives. The basic treatment scheme recommended for diving accidents is hyperbaric oxygenation at 280 kPa.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Diving; Decompression Sickness; Referral and Consultation; Telephone; Oxygen; Accidents
PubMed: 37033772
DOI: 10.3205/000315 -
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance Nov 2021Sinus barotraumas are a common condition in aviation medicine, sometimes compromising flight safety and even permanently grounding aircrew. Considering this and the...
Sinus barotraumas are a common condition in aviation medicine, sometimes compromising flight safety and even permanently grounding aircrew. Considering this and the ever-increasing amount of commercial aviation, a thorough examination is required. In this survey study, an anonymous, electronic questionnaire was distributed to commercial aircrew of the three major commercial airlines operating in Finland ( 3799), covering 93% of the target population (i.e., all commercial aircrew operating in Finland, 4083). Primary outcomes were self-reported prevalence, clinical characteristics, and health and occupational effects of sinus barotraumas in flight. Secondary outcomes were adjusted odds ratios (OR) for frequency of sinus barotraumas with respect to possible risk factors. Response rate was 47% ( 1789/3799), with 61% ( 1088) of the respondents having experienced sinus barotraumas in flight. Of those affected, 59% had used medications, 18% had undergone surgical procedures, and 53% had been on sick leave due to sinus barotraumas (38% during the last year) in flight. Factors associated with sinus barotraumas were female sex [OR, 2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.354.50] and a high number of upper respiratory tract infections (3 vs. <3 URTIs/yr: OR, 3.61; 95% CI 2.654.93). Sinus barotraumas were reported by 61% of commercial aircrew. They caused an increased need for medications, otorhinolaryngology-related surgical procedures, and sickness absence from flight duty. The possible risk factors were female sex and a high number of URTIs/yr..
Topics: Aerospace Medicine; Aviation; Barotrauma; Female; Humans; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 34819211
DOI: 10.3357/AMHP.5849.2021 -
Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Mar 2021Middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) is the most common medical complication in diving, posing a serious risk to dive safety. Given this prevalence and the continuing growth of...
INTRODUCTION
Middle ear barotrauma (MEBt) is the most common medical complication in diving, posing a serious risk to dive safety. Given this prevalence and the continuing growth of the diving industry, a comprehensive overview of the condition is warranted.
METHODS
This was a survey study. An anonymous, electronic questionnaire was distributed to 7,060 recipients: professional divers of the Finnish Border Guard, the Finnish Rescue Services, and the Finnish Heritage agency; and recreational divers registered as members of the Finnish Divers' Association reachable by e-mail (roughly two-thirds of all members and recreational divers in Finland). Primary outcomes were self-reported prevalence, clinical characteristics, and health effects of MEBt while diving. Secondary outcomes were adjusted odds ratios (OR) for frequency of MEBt with respect to possible risk factors.
RESULTS
A total of 1,881 respondents participated in the study (response rate 27%). In total, 81% of the respondents had experienced MEBt while diving. Of those affected, 38% had used medications and 1% had undergone otorhinolaryngology-related surgical procedures due to MEBt. Factors most associated with MEBt were poor subjective success in Valsalva ('occasionally' versus 'always' successful: OR 11.56; 95% CI 7.24-18.47) and Toynbee ('occasionally' versus 'always' successful: OR 3.51; 95% CI 1.95-6.30) manoeuvres.
CONCLUSIONS
MEBt is common in both recreational and professional divers, having affected 81% of the respondents. The main possible risk factors include poor success in pressure equalisation manoeuvres.
Topics: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Barotrauma; Diving; Ear, Middle; Eustachian Tube; Finland; Humans
PubMed: 33761540
DOI: 10.28920/dhm51.1.44-52 -
Zhonghua Shao Shang Za Zhi = Zhonghua... Mar 2016In recent years, a variety of explosive weapons become increasingly common used in regional military conflicts and terrorist bomb attacks. Meanwhile, the incidence of... (Review)
Review
In recent years, a variety of explosive weapons become increasingly common used in regional military conflicts and terrorist bomb attacks. Meanwhile, the incidence of accidental explosion also showed an increase in the industries and daily life. The lung is the most labile organ and it is used to be severely injured organ in blast injury although even no signs of external injury could be observed on chest. Blast injury can present the symptoms such as lung rupture, bleeding, edema and emphysema. Respiratory dysfunction can affect oxygen supply to organs and systemic tissue, resulting in rapid and sustained hypoxemia and high mortality rate. Blast lung injury is characterized by respiratory disturbance and hypoxia. This article summarizes the etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiological changes, diagnosis, and treatment of blast lung injury, with a hope to provide some useful clinical information.
Topics: Blast Injuries; Explosions; Humans; Lung Injury
PubMed: 27030652
DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-2587.2016.03.007 -
The Journal of International Advanced... May 2021Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving is a popular sport. However, improper diving may injure different organs. The majority of dive-related... (Review)
Review
Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) diving is a popular sport. However, improper diving may injure different organs. The majority of dive-related disorders concern otolaryngology, and may include hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness, disequilibrium, and vertigo. Three main inner ear pathological conditions can occur underwater: inner ear barotrauma (IEB), inner ear decompression sickness (IEDS), and alternobaric vertigo (AV). IEB results from inappropriate equalization of middle ear pressure and consequent inner ear injury produced by pressure changes within the middle ear; IEDS is characterized by the formation of gas bubbles within the vessels of the inner ear during rapid ascent; AV typically develops while ascending or performing the Valsalva maneuver and can follow asymmetrical equalization of middle ear pressure transmitted via the oval and round window membranes. The clinical pictures of these pathological conditions are partly superimposable, even if they have specific peculiarities. Before starting SCUBA diving, a fit-to-dive assessment is recommended. It should include an otolaryngologic examination with audiological assessment to evaluate nasal, middle ear, and tubal patency and to minimize the risk of IEB, IEDS, and AV. It is of utmost importance to identify individual risk factors and predisposing pathological conditions that favor inner ear injury before diving, to prevent acute events and preserve auditory and vestibular functions in SCUBA divers. This review aims to provide an overview of the pathological conditions characterized by inner ear injury in SCUBA divers, discussing their pathogenetic mechanisms, diagnostic work-up, and prevention.
Topics: Barotrauma; Diving; Ear, Inner; Ear, Middle; Humans; Vertigo
PubMed: 34100753
DOI: 10.5152/iao.2021.8892 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Feb 2022Injury scoring systems can be used for triaging, predicting morbidity and mortality, and prognosis in mass casualty incidents. Recent conflicts and civilian incidents... (Review)
Review
Injury scoring systems can be used for triaging, predicting morbidity and mortality, and prognosis in mass casualty incidents. Recent conflicts and civilian incidents have highlighted the unique nature of blast injuries, exposing deficiencies in current scoring systems. Here, we classify and describe deficiencies with current systems used for blast injury. Although current scoring systems highlight survival trends for populations, there are several major limitations. The reliable prediction of mortality on an individual basis is inaccurate. Other limitations include the saturation effect (where scoring systems are unable to discriminate between high injury score individuals), the effect of the overall injury burden, lack of precision in discriminating between mechanisms of injury, and a lack of data underpinning scoring system coefficients. Other factors influence outcomes, including the level of healthcare and the delay between injury and presentation. We recommend that a new score incorporates the severity of injuries with the mechanism of blast injury. This may include refined or additional codes, severity scores, or both, being added to the Abbreviated Injury Scale for high-frequency, blast-specific injuries; weighting for body regions associated with a higher risk for death; and blast-specific trauma coefficients. Finally, the saturation effect (maximum value) should be removed, which would enable the classification of more severe constellations of injury. An early accurate assessment of blast injury may improve management of mass casualty incidents.
Topics: Blast Injuries; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Injury Severity Score; Mass Casualty Incidents; Prognosis; Time Factors; Triage
PubMed: 34774294
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2021.10.007 -
European Respiratory Review : An... Dec 2016The number of people practising recreational breath-hold diving is constantly growing, thereby increasing the need for knowledge of the acute and chronic effects such a... (Review)
Review
The number of people practising recreational breath-hold diving is constantly growing, thereby increasing the need for knowledge of the acute and chronic effects such a sport could have on the health of participants. Breath-hold diving is potentially dangerous, mainly because of associated extreme environmental factors such as increased hydrostatic pressure, hypoxia, hypercapnia, hypothermia and strenuous exercise.In this article we focus on the effects of breath-hold diving on pulmonary function. Respiratory symptoms have been reported in almost 25% of breath-hold divers after repetitive diving sessions. Acutely, repetitive breath-hold diving may result in increased transpulmonary capillary pressure, leading to noncardiogenic oedema and/or alveolar haemorrhage. Furthermore, during a breath-hold dive, the chest and lungs are compressed by the increasing pressure of water. Rapid changes in lung air volume during descent or ascent can result in a lung injury known as pulmonary barotrauma. Factors that may influence individual susceptibility to breath-hold diving-induced lung injury range from underlying pulmonary or cardiac dysfunction to genetic predisposition.According to the available data, breath-holding does not result in chronic lung injury. However, studies of large populations of breath-hold divers are necessary to firmly exclude long-term lung damage.
Topics: Acute Lung Injury; Barotrauma; Breath Holding; Diving; Humans; Lung; Prognosis; Respiratory Function Tests; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Time Factors
PubMed: 27903671
DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0052-2016 -
The Nurse Practitioner Jul 2022There are approximately 2.8 million active self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers in the US who are at risk for decompression sickness. This...
There are approximately 2.8 million active self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) divers in the US who are at risk for decompression sickness. This article discusses the pathophysiology, common signs and symptoms, and treatments of this multisystem complication of SCUBA diving.
Topics: Decompression Sickness; Diving; Humans
PubMed: 35758919
DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000832540.82026.0d -
Neonatal Network : NN Nov 2017Pneumopericardium occurs when air accumulates in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart and is one of the rarest forms of air leaks in neonates. Because of various...
Pneumopericardium occurs when air accumulates in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart and is one of the rarest forms of air leaks in neonates. Because of various advances in neonatal care, including gentler modes of ventilation, surfactant replacement, and antenatal steroids, the incidence of pneumopericardium has decreased. Despite the decrease in incidence of pneumopericardium, most cases arise in premature infants with a history of respiratory distress and mechanical ventilation. Evidence has shown that the incidence is inversely related to birth weight and that pneumopericardium has high mortality and morbidity rates.
Topics: Barotrauma; Hemodynamics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Intensive Care, Neonatal; Male; Pneumopericardium; Pneumothorax; Radiography, Thoracic; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn; Withholding Treatment
PubMed: 29185948
DOI: 10.1891/0730-0832.36.6.368 -
Chinese Journal of Traumatology =... 2015With the increasing incidence of blast injury, the research on its mechanisms and protective measures draws more and more attention. Blast injury has many... (Review)
Review
With the increasing incidence of blast injury, the research on its mechanisms and protective measures draws more and more attention. Blast injury has many characteristics different from general war injuries or trauma. For example, soldiers often have various degrees of visceral injury without significant surface damage, combined injuries and arterial air embolism. Researchers in China began to investigate blast injury later than the United States and Sweden, but the development is so fast that lots of achievements have been gained, including the development of biological shock tube, the mechanisms and characteristics of blast injury in various organs, as well as protective measures under special environments. This article reviews the past and current situation of blast injury research in China.
Topics: Animals; Blast Injuries; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; China; Disease Models, Animal; Ear; Eye Injuries; High-Energy Shock Waves; Humans; Lung Injury; Research
PubMed: 26764539
DOI: 10.1016/j.cjtee.2015.11.001