Abstract

DURAN FERNANDEZ, Sarais; FONSECA SARMENTO, Jorge  and  LEYVA URQUIZA, Félix. Severe decompressive illness in amateur diver. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2019, vol.48, n.1, e197.  Epub Mar 01, 2019. ISSN 0138-6557.

We present a 23-year-old male patient, amateur diver, who came to Dr. Joaquín Castillo Duany Militar Hospital complaining of sudden cramps, total loss of muscle strength in lower limbs, decreased muscle strength in upper limbs, shortness of breath, chest tightness, anal and bladder sphincter relaxation and restlessness. He had done deep-sea dives in two consecutive days, with escape to the surface but not performing required decompression stops at the exit of the second dive. His diagnosis was severe decompression sickness or type II and pulmonary barotrauma. He is reported as severe and admitted to the intensive care unit. Urgent recompression treatment was performed. The clinical evolution was favorable without danger to life although with disabling neurological sequelae.

Keywords : diving accident; decompression sickness; pulmonary barotrauma.

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