Neurological long term consequences of deep diving

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Neurology
• Hyperbaric Medicine

Background:

• Commercial saturation diving involves prolonged exposure to high ambient pressures.
• Neurological health is a critical concern for divers due to potential risks associated with pressure changes and decompression.
• Previous studies suggest potential neurological effects from diving, but long-term impacts require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term neurological health of commercial saturation divers after deep diving.
• To identify correlations between diving exposure, decompression sickness, and neurological symptoms or findings.
• To compare neurological health in divers versus a control group.

Main Methods:

• Neurological examinations and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed on 40 saturation divers (1-7 years post-dive) and 100 controls.
• Divers reported subjective neurological symptoms.
• Specific tests included visual evoked potentials, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, and brain MRI.

Main Results:

• Divers reported significantly more nervous system symptoms, including concentration difficulties and peripheral paresthesia.
• Divers exhibited more abnormal neurological findings, particularly related to lumbar spinal cord/roots, and a higher proportion of abnormal EEGs compared to controls.
• Neurological issues were significantly correlated with depth, air/saturation diving, and decompression sickness history. Four divers experienced cerebral dysfunction episodes.

Conclusions:

• Deep diving, particularly saturation diving, may lead to long-term neurological effects in commercial divers.
• Neurological symptoms and findings are associated with cumulative diving exposure and decompression sickness.
• While advanced imaging showed no significant differences, clinical assessments indicate a need for ongoing neurological monitoring in this population.