To make a long story short I have a buddy who had a lung collapsed on him when he was around 16. He 's had no other issues for 18 years now. I am not sure exactly what caused it. Something to do with not enough fatty tissue in order to support something?? This is all I can remember. Anyway, he contacted me not long ago and wants to start diving. This is one of the best friends I've ever had and I think he would make an incredible DB..... I just want to make sure he will be ok. I realize this condition usually turns one into a bubble watcher, but I was wondering if this is a definite no no or what??
Collapsed Lung and diving.
- Thread starter OnceLoyal
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I once sent a potential student to the Dr because he had the same thing so I wanted to get him cleared. His Dr said no.
tell him to talk to his doctor, and if the dr does not understand all the implications, he can call DAN, I wouldn't take any other medical advice on here.....
bamamedic
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Hopefully, a physician will chime in....
But generally, I've heard that if the collapsed lung is caused by trauma, then it's usually OK to dive because it was an injury that caused the lung to collapse, and that injury has been repaired.
However, if the collasped lung was a spontaneous event, then diving is generally considered a bad idea, because it could theoretically happen again. Some people just wind up with spontaneous pneumothoraxes (I've heard that tall, skinny people are a bit more predisposed to them).
Call DAN and ask for a physician recommentation in your area. He or she would be best prepared to examine your friend and tell him if he's OK to dive.
But generally, I've heard that if the collapsed lung is caused by trauma, then it's usually OK to dive because it was an injury that caused the lung to collapse, and that injury has been repaired.
However, if the collasped lung was a spontaneous event, then diving is generally considered a bad idea, because it could theoretically happen again. Some people just wind up with spontaneous pneumothoraxes (I've heard that tall, skinny people are a bit more predisposed to them).
Call DAN and ask for a physician recommentation in your area. He or she would be best prepared to examine your friend and tell him if he's OK to dive.
Yeah, the problem is I don't think he will ask a doc. He was tall and very thin...Just thinking that it was so many years ago and he is a lot heavier now... I dunno wishful thinking? Maybe if we kept the depth shallow 
piikki
Contributor
These too statements don’t quite rhyme. Sorry to sound harsh but if his judgment is poor enough not to care to check dive related health issues, he won’t make a great buddy. Is he planning to lie on possible medical questions too? Or are you planning to train him?
I would advise you to emphatically encourage him to get checked out if he wants to get training, and ever more emphatically tell him that unfortunately you will not be able to dive with him if he does not. However much you appreciate his company it is not up to you to plan something like this:
to try to guesstimate whether it would make it safe for him and you. Don’t fall for this nonsense just to please a friend or because you hope and think he is alright. If he is not making the right choices regarding his safety, make one in regard to yours.
As mentioned, there is a distinct difference between a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) due to injury, and one which occurs spontaneously. The former implies nothing about abnormality of the underlying lung, whereas the latter definitely does. The recurrence rate for spontaneous pneumo is quoted somewhere between 25 and 60 percent, and although the majority of recurrences are in the first few years, they can happen later. Tall, thin body habitus is associated with spontaneous pneumothorax, and also with connective tissue abnormalities that can cause other medical problems.
It is my extremely strong recommendation that your friend not even consider diving without medical evaluation and clearance. A pneumothorax underwater is truly a potentially lethal problem. Should one occur, there is nothing you can do during the dive or ascent to minimize the risk.
It is my extremely strong recommendation that your friend not even consider diving without medical evaluation and clearance. A pneumothorax underwater is truly a potentially lethal problem. Should one occur, there is nothing you can do during the dive or ascent to minimize the risk.
I asuume he is thinking since it's been 18 years that everything is ok. Probably just looking the other way on his part. I will do my best to get him to speak with a doc. spontaneous pneumo , I am sure this is what happened to him. I wonder what kind of tests that could be performed if any to make sure everything is ok. I appreciate your guys concerns. As stated before I will do my best to get him to do the right thing.
DepthCharge
Contributor
Your friend should get some knowledgeable medical advice, then make the decision whether to or not to dive. If he understands the risks and still wants to proceed, then more power to him
Pulmonary function testing, and a high-resolution chest CT, would be information for the pulmonologist to use to make a decision regarding diving risk.
