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Neurological manifestations in Japanese Ama divers
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Summary
Repetitive breath-hold diving can cause decompression illness (DCI), a condition linked to nitrogen bubbles causing brain damage. Studies show professional divers experience stroke-like events and cerebral infarcts due to this repeated exposure.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Neurology
- Diving Medicine
Background:
- Repetitive breath-hold (BH) diving can lead to nitrogen (N2) accumulation, potentially causing decompression illness (DCI).
- The diving syndrome "Taravana" and its link to BH diving have been debated since the 1960s.
- Previous cases suggest DCI symptoms in BH divers, with recent findings highlighting cerebral infarcts in professional Ama divers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence and characteristics of DCI in professional breath-hold divers.
- To explore the potential link between BH diving practices and neurological damage.
- To understand the etiological factors contributing to brain damage in BH divers.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical reports on "Taravana" and DCI in BH diving.
- Analysis of recent case studies involving professional Japanese Ama divers.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect cerebral abnormalities.
- Epidemiological survey on an island community of Ama divers.
Main Results:
- Professional Ama divers with diving accident histories showed cerebral infarcts in brain watershed areas via MRI.
- A significant number of Ama divers surveyed reported experiencing stroke-like events.
- The observed neurological damage in BH divers appears to be primarily limited to the brain.
Conclusions:
- Breath-hold diving, particularly repetitive exposures, poses a risk for developing DCI.
- Arterialized nitrogen bubbles are the likely cause of brain damage in BH divers.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms of brain injury in BH diving.