QUOTE=Uncle Frank;5726602]Since then I have received conflicting advice from doctors about my future fitness for diving - two of them have said that diving will be no problem however one has said that because my medical record describes the wound as a pneumothorax that I must never dive again.[/QUOTE]
Hi Frank,
Pneumothorax, commonly called collapsed lung, is a collection of air in the cavity between the lung and the chest wall. This gas exerts pressure on the lung so that it can no longer expand in its normal manner.
Generally, it is spontaneous pneumothorax that is a contraindication to diving, largely because it could recur, and the recurrence level can be alarmingly high in some groups. Should this happen u/w, it could be fatal.
The condition you sustained is termed traumatic pneumothorax and occurs following a blunt or penetrating injury that disrupts the cavity surrounding the lungs. Obviously, the recurrence of the traumatic form of pneumothorax is more far predictable than is the case with spontaneous pneumothorax as prior to the insult to lung the expectation is that it was basically healthy.
In general, the diver with an unremarkable helical CT of the lung area and normal pulmonary function testing, and who otherwise has healthy lungs and good health, is a candidate to return to diving. Of course, he should first receive clearance from a pulmonologist who has a basic understanding diving medicine.
You and your pulmonary specialist may find the following excerpt from the below referenced article to be of interest:
“Cheng J, Diamond M.
SCUBA diving for individuals with disabilities.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2005 May;84(5):369-75
”Pneumothorax can be spontaneous or result from trauma. Spontaneous pneumothorax can be associated with structural abnormalities and lung disease (21). It is a strict contraindication for SCUBA diving because the underlying cause may still be present at the time of diving (20). Many individuals who have disabilities resulting from traumatic events have had pneumothoraces. Traumatic pneumothorax, however, is not a contraindication provided that the injury is well healed.”
If you have additional questions, you and your physician are free to contact DAN America by email at
https://www.diversalertnetwork.org/myaccount/mscc/emailmedic.asp or by phone at +1-919-684-2948 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM EST). The DAN Asia-Pacific website is at
http://www.danasiapacific.org/
BTW, I notice that you are from Adelaide. As such, the following facilities or doctor may be of assistance:
-Adelaide Hyperbaric Unit ((08) 8222 5116)
-Morphett Vale Family Practice ((08) 8384 7977)
-Dr. Alex Jaksic (Christies Beach (08) 8384 2900/Shiedow Park (08) 8322 2455)
Best of luck.
DocVikingo
PS: Please let us know what is done and decided. It helps us learn.
This is educational only and does not constitute or imply a doctor-patient relationship. It is not medical advice to you or any other individual and should not be construed as such.
