Fernando Guillén-Pino1,2, Armando Morera-Fumero2, Manuel Henry-Benítez2, Emilio Alonso-Lasheras3, Pedro Abreu-González4, Vicente Medina-Arana5. 1. Corresponding author: Fernando Guillén-Pino. Departamento de Medicina Interna, Dermatología y Psiquiatría (Unidad de Psiquiatría). Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Campus de Ofra, Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38071, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, fernandoguillenpino@gmail.com. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Psychiatry, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. 3. Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, Canary Islands University Hospital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. 4. Department of Medical Basic Science (Physiology Unit), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. 5. Department of Surgery, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de la Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This research reports the epidemiology of diving injuries managed in the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit of the Canary Islands University Hospital. METHODS: Data were extracted from the clinical records of all divers injured and admitted to the unit for treatment of dysbaric diving injuries between 2008 and 2017, inclusive. RESULTS: One-hundred and thirty diving injuries were recorded. Most (71%) occurred in men and 43% were foreigners. Eighteen per cent either had no diving certification or that information was not recorded in the clinical chart. Only a third of the 40% of divers who had some form of on-site first aid treatment received oxygen and oral rehydration. Type 1 decompression sickness (DCS) was diagnosed in 56 divers (43%) and Type 2 in 67 (52%), whilst seven were treated for omitted decompression. At discharge, 122 (94%) were asymptomatic, whilst 5% experienced some residual sensory or other changes. One diver who presented late remained quadriparetic and one, admitted in a state of coma, died. Only 76% of the injured divers had specific diving accident insurance and, of those, 58% were foreign divers. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the injured divers did not receive any on-site first aid. The majority (94%) of treated injured divers were discharged without sequelae. Based on these data, several public health recommendations for the Canary Islands are made. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
INTRODUCTION: This research reports the epidemiology of diving injuries managed in the Hyperbaric Medicine Unit of the Canary Islands University Hospital. METHODS: Data were extracted from the clinical records of all divers injured and admitted to the unit for treatment of dysbaric diving injuries between 2008 and 2017, inclusive. RESULTS: One-hundred and thirty diving injuries were recorded. Most (71%) occurred in men and 43% were foreigners. Eighteen per cent either had no diving certification or that information was not recorded in the clinical chart. Only a third of the 40% of divers who had some form of on-site first aid treatment received oxygen and oral rehydration. Type 1 decompression sickness (DCS) was diagnosed in 56 divers (43%) and Type 2 in 67 (52%), whilst seven were treated for omitted decompression. At discharge, 122 (94%) were asymptomatic, whilst 5% experienced some residual sensory or other changes. One diver who presented late remained quadriparetic and one, admitted in a state of coma, died. Only 76% of the injured divers had specific diving accident insurance and, of those, 58% were foreign divers. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of the injured divers did not receive any on-site first aid. The majority (94%) of treated injured divers were discharged without sequelae. Based on these data, several public health recommendations for the Canary Islands are made. Copyright: This article is the copyright of the authors who grant Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine a non-exclusive licence to publish the article in electronic and other forms.
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