Pulmonary barotrauma of a diver using a oxygen rebreathing diving apparatus
Tetzlaff K, Neubauer B, Reuter M, Warninghoff VAviat Space Environ Med 1996; 67:1198-1200
Abstract
A 22-yr old healthy male diver performed a dive using a closed circuit oxygen rebreathing apparatus according to normal procedure. After the dive he developed clinical symptoms of medistinal emphysema. A chest X-ray taken 1 d after the dive showed a discrete "tram track" sign in the left paracardial region. Spiral volumetric computed tomography of the chest 4 d postinjury detected a small subpleural emphysematous bulla next to the left ventricle, the pneumomediastinum being absorbed in the meantime. Clinical outcome of pulmonary decompression barotrauma in the case of oxygen rebreathing may be different from that in compressed air diving, due to the altered gas physics. The necessity for computed tomography of the chest is emphasized, preferably using the spiral mode, in any case of suspected pulmonary barotrauma.
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Table of Contents for Volume 67, Number 12 of the ASEM journal.