What Researchers Did
Researchers reported on a case where a woman with diving-related gas embolism was successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy after a significant delay.
What They Found
A 26-year-old woman experienced gas embolism symptoms, including chest and knee pain, after two panic ascents during SCUBA diving from shallow water (< 8m). Despite a 27-day delay in receiving treatment, she was successfully treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which involved a pressure of 0.6 MPa (6 ATA) on the first day, followed by 0.28 MPa (2.8 ATA) on the subsequent two days.
Canadian Relevance
This study covers arterial gas embolism and decompression sickness, which are Health Canada-recognised indications for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Study Limitations
As a case report, this study describes the experience of only one patient, meaning its findings cannot be broadly applied to all individuals with similar conditions.