Citation

Andrić D, Petri NM, Stipancevic H, Petri LV, Kovacević H. Int. Marit. Health 2003; 54(1-4): 127-134.

Affiliation

The Naval Medical Institute, Department of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, Split, Croatia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, International Maritime Health Association, Publisher Via Medica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

14974786

Abstract

A significant change of occurrence (p=0.0343) of type 1 and type 2 decompression sickness (DCS) of divers in Croatia was observed in the period from 1991 to 2002 (type 1: n=26, 37.68% and type 2: n=43, 62.32%) compared with the period from 1967 to 1990 (type 1: n=93, 52.84% and type 2: n=83, 47.16%). The change was attributed to the extensive usage of diving computers and artificial gas mixtures which enable extended bottom times and deeper dives, thus putting divers at an increased decompression risk. The importance of the results of this report is in the fact that permanent neurological deficit occurs only after type 2 DCS. Injured divers with permanent loss after type 2 DCS are not fit for diving and require a long term medical care, thus becoming a significant public health problem.

Language: en