Retrospective Study Aviation, space, and environmental medicine 1997

Scuba decompression illness and diving fatalities in an overseas military community.

Arness MK — Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 1997

View Original on PubMed PMID 9096830

Tier 2, Indexed

Automatically imported from PubMed based on relevance criteria.

Summary

What Researchers Did

A retrospective study was conducted to analyze scuba decompression illness (DCI) and fatalities in the U.S. military community on Okinawa Island, Japan, from 1989 to 1995.

What They Found

Researchers reported 94 cases of DCI, including 10 cerebral air-gas embolisms, and 9 diving fatalities, with an estimated overall incidence of 1/7400 dives and a fatality rate of 1/76,900. Complete recovery with hyperbaric oxygen treatment occurred in 91% of cases, but 67% of those requiring retreatment experienced chronic DCI residua.

Canadian Relevance

This study has no direct Canadian connection as it focused on the U.S. military community on Okinawa Island, Japan.

Study Limitations

As a retrospective study, it relies on reported data which may be subject to reporting biases and incomplete records.

This plain-language summary is generated with AI assistance and checked against the source abstract before publication. See our editorial policy.

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Study Details

Study Type	Retrospective Study
Category	Neurological
Source	Pubmed
PubMed ID	9096830
Year Published	1997
Journal	Aviation, space, and environmental medicine
MeSH Terms	Adult; Decompression Sickness; Diagnostic Errors; Diving; Humans; Incidence; Japan; Male; Military Personnel; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; United States

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Disclaimer: This study summary is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. The information presented reflects the findings of the original research authors and may not represent the views of Canada Hyperbarics. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.

Last reviewed: April 2, 2026 | Reviewed by: Canada Hyperbarics Editorial Team | Editorial process | Research sources | Counts & methodology