What Researchers Did
Researchers analyzed 6,083 calls made to the Australian Diver Emergency Service over 17 years (1991-2007) to understand who called and why.
What They Found
The service logged an average of 358 calls per year, with calls from outside Australia increasing to make up 25% of the total. Decompression illness was considered the probable diagnosis in 17% of calls, with barotrauma accounting for 11% and fitness to dive questions for 15%. The mean age of divers discussed in calls increased from 30 to 36 years, and calls from divers aged 50 or older rose from 2% to 14%.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study highlights the common types of diving emergencies and questions faced by divers, such as decompression illness and barotrauma. Canadian divers and emergency services can use this information to better prepare for and respond to similar incidents, emphasizing the importance of specialized medical advice for diving-related issues.
Canadian Relevance
This study is not Canadian. However, it covers decompression sickness and barotrauma, which can lead to arterial gas embolism, both Health Canada-recognized indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
The interpretation of the collected data in this study is primarily qualitative, limiting definitive conclusions about trends.