Is heart defect dangerous?

[wetvet]

Hi Diving Docs

I am new to the boards, and have a question for one of you Med types. I have a congenetal ventricular septal defect (for everyone else, it means I have a hole about the size of a nickel between the ventricles in my heart). I have done some research (limited, there is little out there that applies), and thought about it a lot.....correct me if I am wrong.

Because of the VSD, I have an increased pulmonary pressure, and an inefficient systemic circulation. The impact on Nitrogen loading should be minimal, because my body is at equilibrium with this system. All that basically happens is that my aerobic capacity is less than optimum, and I can pass out if I run too fast. (My aerobic capacity is plenty sufficient for diving....play very competitive ice hockey, and try to keep kinda fit

The reason for my question is that I have just finished my Nitrox course, and have been considering getting into the beginnings of deco diving, and then tek stuff. Personally I feel that I have no more uncertainty about my physiological response than the average diver, but want a second opinion.

I have my AOW, Rescue, Ice diving, Nitrox certs, and 100 dives, and have had no problems yet.

Thanks

P. S. I am a vet, so any of you medical types who find things easier to explain in techno-speak, feel free

 

[The Iceni]

wetvet once bubbled...
I have a congenetal ventricular septal defect. I have done some research (limited, there is little out there that applies), and thought about it a lot.....correct me if I am wrong.
. . I . .and have been considering getting into the beginnings of deco diving, and then tek stuff. Personally I feel that I have no more uncertainty about my physiological response than the average diver, but want a second opinion.

Hi Wetvet,

Can I ask you to take advice from a local cardiologist with an interest in diving medicine. As you know, what you describe is a left to right shunt. Right to left shunts are problematic for divers. As A GP I know little about VSDs and and cannot comment on your risks overall but it seems unlikely that the shunt could ever cause problems of flow reversal, because of the greater pressure differential between the two ventricles.

However, I nearly died last year following a cerebral artery gas embolus, which we believe was largely due to an atrial septal defect (a patent foramen ovale). The index dive was well within no stop limits and relatively shallow for me at 20 M. I simply lost consciousness on the ascent.

It is estimated that a PFO is present in 30% of the polulation and with a VSD it may be that you also have another congenital defect such as a PFO, which your doctors will not be concerned about as these are usually haemodynamically insignificant and they may not appreciate the specific problems with diving.

Two important messages;

All dives are decompression dives.

Either you are fit to dive or your are not fit to dive. (To my mind there can be no areas of grey.)

I hope things work out for you.:doctor:

 

[Doppler]

Hi Wetvet:

Unrelated... but maybe interesting to you.


As you probably are aware, PFOs are considered by many to be a counter-indication for enrollment in a technical diving course -- read staged decompression class. For what it's worth, if I knew of your "ailment" -- PFO or VSD it wouldn't matter -- I would require a release document from a diving physician before taking you in a class... sorry about that mate... and after all, it's just my opinion.

For the record, a good buddy of mine who was a very active diver... but who had a PFO... had zero problems until he started staged deco dives and trimix... By the time he called it quits, I think he'd been bent in each of the Great Lakes at least once... he finally got the message.

Take care. Hope someone can give you better news

DD

 

[boomx5]

is something that really scares me. I've never had a problem with anything and I feel like I'm in great shape. But it scares me to think that I my have a PFO and not know it. I would sure hate to find out the hard way some day and have an accident, or take an "undeserved hit". Just to be safe, I'm planning of getting a PFO test before I take my RecTriox class in August just to make sure.

 

[Doppler]

boomx5 once bubbled...
is something that really scares me. I've never had a problem with anything and I feel like I'm in great shape. But it scares me to think that I my have a PFO and not know it. I would sure hate to find out the hard way some day and have an accident, or take an "undeserved hit". Just to be safe, I'm planning of getting a PFO test before I take my RecTriox class in August just to make sure.

Scott: that sounds like a fine idea... I tried posting a pdf version of an old article on PFO from Aquatech... but it's an invalid extention here... let me try getting the text off and posting it as raw text.

Well it's a mess but readable... hope I don't get sued for infringement of copyright... Don't send me money!!!!


DD

 

[boomx5]

Thanks for the file.

 

[wetvet]

Thanks a bunch for the info. I've been checked and dont have a PFO....so I may even be one up on some of you :tease: . I am going to look for a cardiologist in Ontario who even knows what SCUBA stands for. I'm sure he will love to meet me......docs hate workin on vets, and vets hate workin on doctors pets.....too much self diagnosis. hee hee.


Thanks again

 

[SMKChef]

I was looking at the Immersed Magazine site last night and happened upon an article in there regarding this topic.

The article is called: Diving with a Broken Heart

It may answer some questions people have.