Kinky carotid artery.

[TjRjn]

Hi all,
My carotid artery has an Ω shaped kink in it which I've just had checked for variations, plaque etc.. Nothing has changed in the last two years and all is good except the neurosurgeon (who is not a dive specialist) has now recommended no diving below 30metres. (Which I've already done without issue)
I'm just wondering in the absence of a local dive doctor if anyone here has the same condition and what has been recommend for them? I've no aspirations for diving below 30 but occasionally it happens ie. ship wreck etc..
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[TSandM]

Is it simply a tortuous artery (not straight) or does it have a widening (aneurysm) or narrowing (stenosis) in it? If it's simply tortuous, I cannot imagine how that could cause problems with diving, and where the neurosurgeon came up with a 30m depth limit is beyond me. The vascular tree is fluid-filled and equalizes with ambient pressure -- there are no transmural stresses that should cause arterial problems. There CAN be changes in hemodynamics (centralization of volume, cold or adrenaline-related blood pressure changes) but if the arterial wall is healthy, they should not affect it.

 

[TjRjn]

Is it simply a tortuous artery (not straight) or does it have a widening (aneurysm) or narrowing (stenosis) in it? If it's simply tortuous, I cannot imagine how that could cause problems with diving, and where the neurosurgeon came up with a 30m depth limit is beyond me. The vascular tree is fluid-filled and equalizes with ambient pressure -- there are no transmural stresses that should cause arterial problems. There CAN be changes in hemodynamics (centralization of volume, cold or adrenaline-related blood pressure changes) but if the arterial wall is healthy, they should not affect it.

I'll have to translate the exact diagnosis before I can tell you regarding if it's 'tortuous' or not. I'm not fluent in Turkish so they basically just told me what it said however he has written in English 1- - 20 metres no problem, 30 -40 metres forbidden. My cardiologist said a similar thing (there is nothing wrong with my heart, I just had a check up) but did tell me it was a general recommendation given for anyone with any issues. Again he's not a dive specialist either and this is Turkey. The picture of my carotid artery kink looks like a coffee bean.
I'll translate exactly and get back to you.
Thanks for the info thus far.

 

[DocVikingo]

...he has written in English 1- - 20 metres no problem, 30 -40 metres forbidden.

I agree with TSandM that "...where the neurosurgeon came up with a 30m depth limit is beyond me." In fact, I'll go farther and term it senseless rubbish.

Please keep the board posted.

Regards,

DocVikingo

 

[TjRjn]

As it turns out I did translate the document incorrectly. I've attached the translation of the results.
However he did write on the original document in English 1- - 20 metres no problem, 30 -40 metres forbidden

 

[TSandM]

There is no scientific or medical basis for that recommendation.

If you were to develop problems related to the plaque -- TIA or stroke -- it makes sense that the farther you are from the surface, the more trouble you're in. But depth itself has no bearing on the likelihood of developing problems.

 

[Dr. Doug Ebersole]

I agree with TSandM and DocVikingo. There is no physiologic basis whatsoever to limit your diving depth based on the data provided about your carotids.

 

[TjRjn]

The guy who did the original echo on my carotid arteries two years ago said that most people of 'a certain age' will have some amount of calcium buildup in their arteries the trick is to keep a check to make sure it doesn't build up to unsafe levels and cause a blockage. My concern was with the kink rather than the plaque but no one seems particularly concerned about that. So I'll relax now and continue on my diving courses.
Thanks all for the advice.