What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical histories of 28 divers with mild to moderate neurological decompression sickness treated at a hyperbaric facility in the Maldive Islands to examine the influence of delay to recompression.
What They Found
Divers presenting later than 17 hours after surfacing had more intense symptoms (median 100% on VASS) compared to those treated earlier (median 30%, P = 0.02). However, a delay longer than 17 hours was not associated with needing more hyperbaric oxygen treatments or a worse outcome. Divers with at least 70% symptom reduction after the first treatment required 260 to 1,463 oxygen units in total, while those with less reduction needed 263 to 2,126 units (P = 0.04).
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian recreational divers experiencing mild to moderate neurological decompression sickness should seek medical attention promptly, as delays can lead to more intense initial symptoms. However, even if treatment is delayed, it can still be effective, and a longer delay may not necessarily result in a worse overall outcome.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted in the Maldive Islands and does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
This study was limited by its retrospective design, small sample size of 28 divers, and being a pilot for an abandoned prospective study.