What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a diver with an unclosed persistent foramen ovale (PFO) who experienced decompression sickness (DCS) after a highly conservative dive.
What They Found
The diver, 15 months after a previous neuro-spinal DCS episode, developed new DCS symptoms following a single conservative dive, potentially triggered by a Valsalva manoeuvre. She required multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments over several days, mirroring her previous episode but with milder signs. This suggests that some divers with unclosed PFO and a history of serious DCS may not be safe to dive even within conservative limits.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings cannot be generalized to the broader population of divers with persistent foramen ovale.