Persistent foramen ovale closure in divers with a history of decompression sickness.
Neth Heart J
; 26(11): 535-539, 2018 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30178210
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To study the effect of percutaneous patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in divers with a history of decompression sickness (DCS). STUDYDESIGN:
(1) Retrospective study of patient records and (2) telephonic follow-up. Patients with unexplained decompression sickness, who were referred to a cardiologist with a focus on diving medicine between 2000 and 2017, were included in the studyRESULTS:
A total of 62 divers with DCS were included. In all cases transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed, showing 29 PFOs and 6 atrial septum defects (ASDs) in total nâ¯= 35 (56%). The highest prevalence was found in divers with cutaneous and vestibular DCS. At follow-up (mean follow-up duration 6.8 years), 21 PFOs/ASDs were closed using a percutaneous procedure. One diver was lost to follow-up. One diver quit diving. The remaining divers were able to resume unrestricted diving; there was no recurrence of major DCS. Of the divers with an open PFO or ASD, 14 were included of whom 7 are currently diving. All (except one diver with a small PFO) divers are using a conservative diving profile to reduce nitrogen load and the appearance of venous nitrogen bubbles. There was no recurrence of major DCS in this group.CONCLUSION:
Percutaneous PFO closure may be an effective and safe treatment for divers who have suffered a major DCS to return to unrestricted diving. Alternatively, conservative treatment seems safe when divers refrain from unrestricted diving and use a conservative technique in order to reduce nitrogen load.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Neth Heart J
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Holanda