So less nitrogen and more oxygen should help prevent injuries in all diving? Why shouldn't everyone be diving Nitrox (even at shallow depths)?
MR imaging of the central nervous system in divers.
Yanagawa Y, Okada Y, Terai C, Ikeda T, Ishida K, Fukuda H, Hirata F, Fujita K.
National Defense Medical College, Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonanse imaging (MRI) frequently reveals asymptomatic cerebral infarctions in the general population. HYPOTHESIS: The central nervous system (CNS) of divers is affected by a hyperbaric environment even if they are asymptomatic. METHODS: We examined 25 uniformed service divers by MRI and compared them with normal controls. RESULTS: Of 25 divers, 9 had CNS lesions vs. 2 of 25 controls (p = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between the CNS lesions, age, and smoking. CONCLUSION: The divers had a risk of accumulating CNS lesions. These results suggested that divers should undergo periodic medical evaluations and MRI brain scanning.
MR imaging of the central nervous system in divers.
Yanagawa Y, Okada Y, Terai C, Ikeda T, Ishida K, Fukuda H, Hirata F, Fujita K.
National Defense Medical College, Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonanse imaging (MRI) frequently reveals asymptomatic cerebral infarctions in the general population. HYPOTHESIS: The central nervous system (CNS) of divers is affected by a hyperbaric environment even if they are asymptomatic. METHODS: We examined 25 uniformed service divers by MRI and compared them with normal controls. RESULTS: Of 25 divers, 9 had CNS lesions vs. 2 of 25 controls (p = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between the CNS lesions, age, and smoking. CONCLUSION: The divers had a risk of accumulating CNS lesions. These results suggested that divers should undergo periodic medical evaluations and MRI brain scanning.
