Atelectasis in lungs

[lulubelle]

Any mix is fine, as long as it's 32%. (Come to think of it, any color is fine, as long as it's black. )

Thanks to all for the explanations, they're a big help.

It would still be a good idea to see what your gas exchange is compared to normal. It is possible that a different mix might be safer for you if your gas exchange is not normal. Just because you haven't had a hit yet, doesn't mean that you won't (well, that applies to any of us), but knowing if your risk is the same as the rest of us would be a good idea.

Please don't dive 32% here!

 

[TSandM]

Gas mix is not going to make ANY difference to risk, if the problem is airway obstruction. ANY gas will expand, if trapped behind a mass or mucous plug, and can cause AGE.

 

[lulubelle]

Gas mix is not going to make ANY difference to risk, if the problem is airway obstruction. ANY gas will expand, if trapped behind a mass or mucous plug, and can cause AGE.

What I meant was that if the alveoli are not functioning for any reason, gas exchange is reduced. And of course people with atelectasis have reduced oxygen in the blood. So would it not follow that someone who is diving with some atelectasis might benefit/reduce their risk of a hit from customizing the gases they use when they dive?

I'm really interested in understanding this. I myself had some atelectasis after a hospitalization which thankfully has resolved. But unlike the OP, I was obviously not in any shape to dive at the time.

 

[bluebanded goby]

And of course people with atelectasis have reduced oxygen in the blood.

That's an interesting point. A week after the CT scan, I was in for another procedure that kept me in the hospital for a few hours, during which my vital signs were monitored. I remember noticing throughout that morning that my O2 was typically around 97%, but I could get it up to 100% if I took a few deep breaths. Doesn't sound too bad to me.

I just left a message today with the doctor who ordered the CT scan to ask about the atelectasis, and will follow up with a doctor who specializes in pulmonology and diving.

 

[TSandM]

And of course people with atelectasis have reduced oxygen in the blood.

This actually isn't necessarily true. In a normal, healthy person, there is tremendous reserve for gas exchange in the lungs -- that's why we can remove a whole lung for cancer and have the person survive and be functional afterwards. Atelectasis has to be severe, or be complicated with other things like mucus plugging, to result in low oxygen levels. By the time oxygen is reduced, the person would be far too ill to be considering diving.

This type of incidental finding is troublesome only because we don't have a history of anything going on to explain it (unless the original CT was done for significant abdominal pain which was causing the patient to splint, or not fully expand the lung on that side). Atelectasis in the absence of an explanation raises the question of small airway obstruction from some cause, and THAT is worrisome in a diver.

 

[lulubelle]

This actually isn't necessarily true. In a normal, healthy person, there is tremendous reserve for gas exchange in the lungs -- that's why we can remove a whole lung for cancer and have the person survive and be functional afterwards. Atelectasis has to be severe, or be complicated with other things like mucus plugging, to result in low oxygen levels. By the time oxygen is reduced, the person would be far too ill to be considering diving.

This type of incidental finding is troublesome only because we don't have a history of anything going on to explain it (unless the original CT was done for significant abdominal pain which was causing the patient to splint, or not fully expand the lung on that side). Atelectasis in the absence of an explanation raises the question of small airway obstruction from some cause, and THAT is worrisome in a diver.

Thanks TS and M! Makes sense, the OP reports general good health, and the O2 sats that the OP is reporting certainly pass muster (I'm a peds NP, so grown up things are not my schtick)

I had atelectasis in both lower lobes, my O2 sats were horrible without a mask, and was far to ill to even think about diving. For several months. I did not have to see a Pulmonologist to be cleared for diving as my PFTs were perfectly normal after a few weeks.

So OP, I suspect that it will end up being much ado about...nothing. But always smart to be cautious imho.