Peter Wilmshurst1,2, Margaret Clamp3. 1. Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom. 2. Corresponding author: Dr Peter Wilmshurst, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6QG, United Kingdom, peter.wilmshurst@doctors.org.uk. 3. MC Occupational Health, Colwick, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Drowning is likely to result from impairment of consciousness when scuba diving. Causes include toxic effects of breathing gas, including nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity, and arterial gas embolism. METHODS: Review of the medical records of scuba divers who had impaired consciousness underwater that could not be attributed to toxic effects of breathing gas or arterial gas embolism. RESULTS: Four scuba divers had episodes of impaired consciousness when at shallow depths (8-18 m) underwater. The descriptions of the episodes were very similar. Three had histories of recurrent episodes of vasovagal syncope on land. CONLCUSIONS: Absence of other causes for their impaired consciousness underwater leads to the conclusion that the probable cause was vasovagal syncope. 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: Drowning is likely to result from impairment of consciousness when scuba diving. Causes include toxic effects of breathing gas, including nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity, and arterial gas embolism. METHODS: Review of the medical records of scuba divers who had impaired consciousness underwater that could not be attributed to toxic effects of breathing gas or arterial gas embolism. RESULTS: Four scuba divers had episodes of impaired consciousness when at shallow depths (8-18 m) underwater. The descriptions of the episodes were very similar. Three had histories of recurrent episodes of vasovagal syncope on land. CONLCUSIONS: Absence of other causes for their impaired consciousness underwater leads to the conclusion that the probable cause was vasovagal syncope. 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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