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Cutis marmorata in decompression sickness is associated with a patent foramen ovale
Author(s) -
Kerut Christian K.,
Serio Joseph R.,
Kerut Edmund K.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.14360
Subject(s) - patent foramen ovale , decompression sickness , medicine , shunt (medical) , decompression illness , decompression , cardiology , surgery , migraine
A 39‐year‐old male commercial diver developed cutis marmorata after a dive. He had a full recovery after therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an atrial septal aneurysm and a large shunt during normal respirations. This form of decompression sickness may progress to type II DCS, thus is important to identify and treat. Cutis marmorata as a result of diving is highly associated with an atrial septal defect or a large patent foramen ovale. It is particularly important to assess these patients for a right‐to‐left shunt as part of a medical evaluation prior to returning to diving.