My Wifes IPE in Cozumel

[Brules]

I was in Cozumel diving a few years ago and a guest at my hotel (female, late 40's, fit, tight wet suit diving big 120 tanks) had an IPE incident. Was very scarry for her husband (was not on boat), but he did say he was told by the Dr that the female, fit, 40s and tight wet suit seems to be a magic combination for IPE, specifically the fit and tight wet suit part as it (Drs theory) pushes the fluid more to the central core. Not sure if it holds water but this is the 3rd female I have heard this happening too with similiar age/fitness etc.

Glad it worked out and another example of why you should NEVER dive without DAN!!!!!!! (couple referenced above let DAN lapse before their trip unfortunately).

Glad shes recovering well!

 

[clownfishsydney]

Older females are known to be more susceptible to IPE. Tight wetsuits could also be a contributing factor that is for sure.

 

[DogDiver]

Treatment of choice is IV sildenafil citrate. (Viagra). It was originally designed to treat primary pulmonary edema. However it’s side effects are what makes this drug so popular. Lol.

A chamber won’t help.

 

[dmaziuk]

No it wasn't: it was for hypertension and angina.

I don't have the cite, but the idea of using vasodilators for decompression came up at least once before, too. I've seen an article in PubMed from the 80's if not earlier. Here is a DAN article on Viagra and decomprtession: Viagra - curse or blessing for a diver?

Nutshell: it won't help with bubbles at all. It won't help with IPE either, once you have it, but it may help prevent it.

 

[Griffo]

No it wasn't: it was for hypertension and angina.

I don't have the cite, but the idea of using vasodilators for decompression came up at least once before, too. I've seen an article in PubMed from the 80's if not earlier. Here is a DAN article on Viagra and decomprtession: Viagra - curse or blessing for a diver?

Nutshell: it won't help with bubbles at all. It won't help with IPE either, once you have it, but it may help prevent it.

Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema: Pathophysiology and Risk Reduction With Sildenafil
Prevention and Treatment of Immersion Pulmonary Edema - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov

Study of Sildenafil to try to prevent IPE's. Ran across it when researching

EDIT: I'm not sure what the results of either study were, I assume not amazing or we would have heard through other channels.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I can't see the results from this study.

Should I be carrying?

 

[dmaziuk]

I can't see the results from this study.

Should I be carrying?

Carrying or caring? You may need to be a card-carrying academentian to see it, if it's behind a paywall. I can see it from work so I can't tell.

Caring - I wouldn't because you'd need to pop the blue pill before you hit the water and walk around with a banana in your pocket "lasting longer than 4 hours". Maybe if I were female with a known history of IPEs... but it may increase the risk of DCS (see the article I linked).

 

[chillyinCanada]

I'm unlikely to have any banana problems such as you describe.

"Carrying" for treatment

 

[dmaziuk]

"Carrying" for treatment

Not a treatment option, a prevention option: once the fluid's already in the lungs, dilating your blood vessels isn't gonna suck it back in.

 

[Ayisha]

What a stressful experience. Glad your wife is ok and able to dive again.
This is an article that I wrote for the Ontario Underwater Council back in 2011, but it seems to still be relevant today. It was reviewed at the time by one of our local coroners, who was one of the first to diagnose IPE.
Diving and Immersion Pulmonary Edema - ScubaBoard