What Researchers Did
Researchers reported the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with acute left vestibular dysfunction suggestive of inner ear decompression sickness after scuba diving.
What They Found
Despite initial suspicion of inner ear decompression sickness, normal videonystagmography and a delayed occipital headache led to a brain MRI, which confirmed a recent ischaemic infarction in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory. Further investigations revealed a patent foramen ovale with an atrial septal aneurysm in this 47-year-old man, with no other cardiovascular risk factors.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it is a case report from outside Canada. However, the diagnostic challenge it highlights is relevant to Canadian emergency physicians and diving medicine specialists.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings are not generalizable to a broader patient population and cannot establish causality or prevalence.