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Pulmonary barotrauma during hookah diving: a case report
Sefika Körpinar1, Uğur Gönlügür2, Oğuz Kapicibaşi3
1Department of Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
Summary
Commercial sea harvest divers can experience lung injuries like emphysema from dive accidents. This case shows how normobaric oxygen therapy can effectively treat this condition in divers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pulmonology
- Diving Medicine
Background:
- Commercial sea harvesting, particularly with hookah diving systems, poses risks for commercial divers.
- Accurate dive history and diagnosis can be challenging following dive accidents.
Observation:
- A sea harvest diver collecting Rapana venosa experienced mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema.
- This condition resulted from an interruption of breathing airflow during a hookah dive.
Findings:
- Pre-accident thoracic computed tomography revealed paramediastinal subpleural blebs on both lung apices.
- The diver's emphysema resolved completely after treatment with normobaric oxygen.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing barotrauma in commercial divers.
- Normobaric oxygen therapy presents a viable treatment option for emphysema in sea harvest divers.
- Further research into dive safety protocols and preventative measures for commercial divers is warranted.
