What Researchers Did
Researchers evaluated the safety of a new decompression table, SWEN21, for the Swedish armed forces by measuring venous gas emboli in 154 dives conducted by 47 divers in a hyperbaric wet chamber.
What They Found
The median peak venous gas emboli (VGE) grade for most dive profiles was 3 (interquartile range 3-4), with two specific profiles showing higher grades of 3.5 and 4. The estimated risk of decompression sickness (DCS) ranged from 4.7% to 11.1% in the Bayesian model, and three dives (2%) actually resulted in DCS.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
While this study focuses on military diving, its findings highlight the importance of rigorously testing new decompression tables to ensure diver safety. Canadian divers, whether recreational or professional, should be aware that projected safety margins for dive tables may not always reflect actual risks, emphasizing the need for conservative diving practices.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it focuses on the Swedish armed forces' dive tables.
Study Limitations
The study's reliance on venous gas emboli as a proxy for decompression sickness risk, rather than direct DCS incidence, is a potential limitation.