Decompression sickness among diving fishermen in Mexico: observational retrospective analysis of DCS in three sea cucumber fishing seasons.

What Researchers Did

Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 166 diving fishermen treated for decompression sickness at a hyperbaric chamber in Tizimín, Mexico, from 2014 to 2016.

What They Found

In total, 233 recompression therapies were rendered to 166 diving fishermen, with an average age of 36.7 years.

84.3% had experienced at least one DCS event previously, musculoskeletal pain was the most frequently reported symptom, and three divers suffered permanent hearing loss, spinal cord injury, or a fatal outcome.

Canadian Relevance

This study has no direct Canadian connection, as it focuses on sea cucumber fishermen in Mexico.

Study Limitations

As a retrospective observational study, it may be limited by the available chart data and cannot establish direct causality for DCS incidents.