What Researchers Did
Researchers reported two cases of divers with severe neurological decompression sickness treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous lidocaine, despite significant treatment delays.
What They Found
Both divers, who presented with severe Type II decompression sickness and neurological impairment, received treatment after delays of 12 hours or more. Despite these delays, both patients made excellent recoveries following hyperbaric oxygen recompression therapy combined with intravenous lidocaine.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that even with significant delays, treatment for severe decompression sickness can be effective. Canadian patients experiencing similar diving-related neurological symptoms should still seek immediate medical attention, as successful outcomes are possible even with delayed intervention.
Canadian Relevance
This study does not have a direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its reliance on only two case reports, which limits the generalizability of the findings.