What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted neurobehavioral examinations and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on two divers hospitalized during the first two weeks after sustaining decompression sickness (DCS).
What They Found
Both divers presented with neurologic findings including Brown-Séquard Syndrome and focal cerebral deficits, and MRI revealed subcortical white matter lesions in the brains of both. They also experienced neurobehavioral sequelae such as memory and visuospatial disturbances, which slowly improved along with the resolution of focal neurologic deficits in both patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that divers experiencing decompression sickness (DCS) may have a higher risk of cerebral involvement than previously understood, even if spinal cord lesions are not visible on MRI. Canadian patients who are divers and present with DCS symptoms should undergo thorough neurobehavioral and imaging assessments to detect potential brain lesions and associated cognitive issues.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The findings of this study are limited by its small sample size of only two case reports, which restricts generalizability to the broader population of divers with DCS.