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The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Dunford, RG; Vann, RD; Gerth, WA; Pieper, CF; Huggins, K; Wacholtz, C; Bennett, PB
Published in: Undersea Hyperb Med
2002

From 1989-91, the Divers Alert Network monitored recreational divers for Doppler-detected venous gas emboli (VGE) and depth-time profiles following multi-day, repetitive, multi-level exposures. A Spencer score >0 occurred in 61 of 67 subjects (91%) and 205 of 281 dives (73%). No subject developed decompression sickness (DCS) on monitored days although 102 dives (36.3%) scored at Spencer Grades 2 or 3 (High Bubble Grade, HBG). We recorded the depth-time profiles with Suunto dive computers and estimated exposure severity with a probabilistic decompression algorithm. The HBG incidence increased 53% over the range of exposure severity (p < 0.001) in the divers, was approximately 20% higher for repetitive dives than for first dives, and decreased approximately 25% over the 6-8 days of multi-day diving (p < 0.001) suggesting a phenomenon similar to DCS adaptation. The observed HBG incidence was approximately 20% higher for males than females. Older male divers had a 25% increase in observed incidence of HBG while older female divers showed a 55% increase when compared to their younger counterparts.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Undersea Hyperb Med

ISSN

1066-2936

Publication Date

2002

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

247 / 259

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography
  • Time Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Probability
  • Physiology
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Incidence
 

Citation

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Dunford, R. G., Vann, R. D., Gerth, W. A., Pieper, C. F., Huggins, K., Wacholtz, C., & Bennett, P. B. (2002). The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving. Undersea Hyperb Med, 29(4), 247–259.
Dunford, R. G., R. D. Vann, W. A. Gerth, C. F. Pieper, K. Huggins, C. Wacholtz, and P. B. Bennett. “The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving.Undersea Hyperb Med 29, no. 4 (2002): 247–59.
Dunford RG, Vann RD, Gerth WA, Pieper CF, Huggins K, Wacholtz C, et al. The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2002;29(4):247–59.
Dunford, R. G., et al. “The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving.Undersea Hyperb Med, vol. 29, no. 4, 2002, pp. 247–59.
Dunford RG, Vann RD, Gerth WA, Pieper CF, Huggins K, Wacholtz C, Bennett PB. The incidence of venous gas emboli in recreational diving. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2002;29(4):247–259.

Published In

Undersea Hyperb Med

ISSN

1066-2936

Publication Date

2002

Volume

29

Issue

4

Start / End Page

247 / 259

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography
  • Time Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Probability
  • Physiology
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Logistic Models
  • Incidence