What Researchers Did
Researchers interviewed six competitive freedivers about 13 cases of decompression illness they experienced, examining use of in-water recompression and subsequent HBOT treatment.
What They Found
Six cases involved in-water recompression at 5 to 25 metres depth for 20 to 90 minutes, with partial or complete symptom resolution. Four cases later received formal HBOT; one diver sustained permanent disability.
Canadian Relevance
Covers an OHIP-covered indication: decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism. Canadian freedivers who develop decompression illness may be eligible for publicly funded HBOT.
Study Limitations
Interview-based retrospective data from only six divers is subject to recall bias and may not represent all freediving decompression illness cases.