Open AccessPulmonary barotrauma with cerebral arterial gas embolism from a depth of 0.75−1.2 metres of fresh water or less: A case report
Author(s) -
Ulrika Lindblom,
Carl Tosterud
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
diving and hyperbaric medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.389
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2209-1491
pISSN - 1833-3516
DOI - 10.28920/dhm51.2.224-226
Subject(s) - air embolism , decompression sickness , anesthesia , medicine , embolism , intracranial embolism , hyperbaric oxygen , hemiparesis , surgery , complication , decompression , lesion
During underwater vehicle escape training with compressed air, a fit 26-year-old soldier suffered pulmonary barotrauma with cerebral arterial gas embolism after surfacing from a depth of 0.75-1.2 metres of freshwater or less. She presented with an altered level of consciousness. Rapid neurological examination noted slurred speech, a sensory deficit and right hemiparesis. Eleven hours after the accident, hyperbaric oxygen treatment was initiated using US Navy Treatment Table 6. The soldier almost completely recovered after repeated hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Given the very shallow depth this is an unusual case with only two similar case reports published previously.