Convulsing diver and AGE?

[cedricverdier]

Hi all,

Has anybody ever heard of convulsing rebreather divers who suffered Arterial Gas embolism after the rescue?

Is there any evidence that bringing a diver during the convulsion could cause any lung overexpansion?

Cheers

 

[DandyDon]

Hi all,

Has anybody ever heard of convulsing rebreather divers who suffered Arterial Gas embolism after the rescue?

Is there any evidence that bringing a diver during the convulsion could cause any lung overexpansion?

Cheers

Do you have an incident you'd like to discuss...?

 

[cedricverdier]

Do you have an incident you'd like to discuss...?

No incident. Just for my information.

Cheers

 

[MonkSeal]

Is there any evidence that bringing a diver during the convulsion could cause any lung overexpansion?

That depends on which phase of convulsions you're trying to move toxic diver in water column. I'm sure that it can happen, at least I was taught that.

 

[andydiver06]

There is some article on procedure for convulsing divers in WKPP site.

 

[DocVikingo]

Hi Cedric,

Before addressing your specific inquiry, it's important to bear in mind that not getting a convulsing diver to the surface quickly entails the possibility of drowning. Divers often survive pulmonary barotrauma and AGE quite well given appropriate emergency response; they do much less well at surviving drowning.

Let's examine the scenarios raised by your question:

1. The diver has finished convulsing and remains conscious.

S/he may be confused and need assistance, but, baring a blocked airway or unusual complication, breathing should have returned to normal and the lungs empty freely upon ascent.

2. The diver has finished convulsing and gone unconscious.

There is little worry about lung overexpansion injury as the glottis relaxes after LOC and the lungs thus empty easily upon ascent.

3. The diver is still actively convulsing.

This appears to be your concern and is dicier than the above situations as regards lung overexpansion injury and AGE.

During phases of a major motor seizure the diver's throat likely will be closed by spasmodic muscular activity. At these times the lungs cannot vent normally and during ascent pulmonary barotrauma, with or without subsequent AGE, certainly is a possibility.

Helpful?

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[DocVikingo]

Although Cedric's question concerns the possibility of pulmonary barotrauma and AGE from bringing a convulsing diver to the surface rather than procedures for rescuing a seizing diver, the material to which Andydiver06 refers can be found at--->

http://www.wkpp.org/oxtox.htm

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[ShoalDiverSA]

There is a lot of discussion over at RebreatherWorld about this topic (of course Cedric knows about this because he was the OP there too...).

But, I am interested in the discussion about punching the victim during the ascent to assist with venting trapped air from the lungs. Is this a good idea?

Cheers,

Andrew

 

[cedricverdier]

Although Cedric's question concerns the possibility of pulmonary barotrauma and AGE from bringing a convulsing diver to the surface rather than procedures for rescuing a seizing diver, the material to which Andydiver06 refers can be found at--->

http://www.wkpp.org/oxtox.htm

Regards,

DocVikingo

Hi Doc,

Thanks for the explanation and the link. Did you ever have a patient with this kind of problem? Is there any scientific reference material?

Cheers

 

[DocVikingo]

You're most welcome, Cedric.

Personally, I have not seen nor heard mention of a case, but was able to find a published report of death from cardiac complications due to pulmonary barotrauma following rapid ascent during a seizure. It can be found at:

Hamad A, Alghadban A, Ward L. Seizure in a scuba diver. Chest. 2001;119:285-286.

Regards,

DocVikingo