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Heliox treatment for spinal decompression sickness following air dives
1Underwater Centre, Fort William, Inverness-shire, Scotland, U.K.
Undersea Biomedical Research
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Delayed treatment for spinal decompression sickness from scuba diving can lead to paralysis. This study shows Helium-Oxygen (He-O2) therapy is an effective treatment for spinal decompression sickness after air diving.
Area of Science:
- Diving Medicine
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Spinal decompression sickness (SDS) following scuba diving can cause severe neurological deficits, including paraplegia.
- Delayed treatment or poor response to initial recompression therapy poses significant clinical challenges.
- The use of Helium-Oxygen (He-O2) gas mixtures for SDS treatment has faced theoretical objections.
Observation:
- This report details three cases of spinal decompression sickness in patients who underwent scuba diving using compressed air.
- Initial recompression therapy to 18 meters of seawater (m) showed a poor response in these patients.
- Despite theoretical concerns, He-O2 therapy was administered to these patients.
Findings:
- Helium-Oxygen (He-O2) therapy demonstrated excellent efficacy in treating spinal decompression sickness in these three cases.
- Patients experienced significant improvement following He-O2 treatment, contrary to initial concerns.
- The treatment regimen proved successful in managing complex SDS cases.
Implications:
- He-O2 therapy should be considered a viable and effective treatment option for spinal decompression sickness, particularly in cases with poor response to standard recompression.
- This finding challenges previous theoretical objections regarding the use of He-O2 in diving medicine.
- Further research into He-O2 protocols for diving-related injuries is warranted to optimize patient outcomes and prevent long-term neurological damage.