Recompression treatment should only be administered in a hospital-based facility

In an ideal world all divers with decompression illness would receive immediate expert assessment and recompression treatment with or without the necessary adjunctive therapy to maintain blood pressure and ensure appropriate pulmonary gas exchange. However, in recreational diving the ability to administer such prompt and sophisticated therapy rarely exists. While in-water recompression procedures have been available for several years, 3 special equipment is required and there are definite risks associated with its use. Safer alternatives, such as portable recompression chambers, are available. However, the other components that are usually necessary to achieve the desired therapeutic outcome are missing. Specifically, trained individuals, suitable procedures, the ability to monitor the patient appropriately and to administer adjunctive therapy such as airway control and intravenous fluids cannot be applied in these monoplace chambers. Given that excellent results can often be obtained even after many hours' delay, the evidence thus far supports the contention that recompression should only be administered in a hospital-based facility.

Duke Scholars

Author Richard Edward Moon Anesthesiology, General, Vascular, High Risk Transplant & Cr ...