What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the impact of a 12-hour Nitrox dive on pulmonary function and exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in six healthy male military SCUBA divers.
What They Found
No clinical pulmonary symptoms or major changes in pulmonary function were observed immediately after the 12-hour dive. However, a significant decrease in FeNO values was noted immediately post-dive, dropping to a median of 3.8 ppb, which then returned to baseline levels (median 24.7 ppb) 24 hours later.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
For Canadian recreational or professional divers, these findings suggest that a 12-hour Nitrox dive, if oxygen toxicity units remain within recommended limits, may not cause significant lasting pulmonary dysfunction. However, the temporary alteration in FeNO indicates a physiological response that divers and medical professionals should be aware of, even without overt symptoms.
Canadian Relevance
This study was conducted outside of Canada and does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its very small sample size of only six healthy male military divers, limiting generalizability to a broader population.