Pulmonary barotrauma: a case report with illustrative radiology

Bigeni, Sarah; Saliba, Mario

doi:10.28920/dhm50.1.66-69

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Boyle's law states that as pressure decreases the volume of a gas must increase and the opposite must be true as well, as the pressure increases the volume of a gas must decrease. When a diver ascends the pressure the body is experiencing decreases, and thus the volume of gas in the lungs increases and must be exhaled [3]. In the case of barotrauma as the gas in the lung expands, if the diver does not exhale, this increased gas volume in the lungs can cause damage [3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When a diver ascends the pressure the body is experiencing decreases, and thus the volume of gas in the lungs increases and must be exhaled [3]. In the case of barotrauma as the gas in the lung expands, if the diver does not exhale, this increased gas volume in the lungs can cause damage [3]. What makes this case unique is the lack of compressed air utilization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pulmonary Barotrauma After Diving Without Breathing Equipment

Rezentes,

Scott

2023

Cureus

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A case of a 19-year-old male with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysema consistent with pulmonary barotrauma after diving is reported. He presented with facial swelling, voice change, chest pain, and shortness of breath after multiple dives between 8 and 12 feet deep without underwater breathing equipment in a river. Relevant radiology, including radiographs and computed tomography (CT imaging), and a discussion of pulmonary barotrauma are presented.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary Barotrauma After Diving Without Breathing Equipment

Rezentes,

Scott

2023

Cureus

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Pulmonary Barotrauma in a BUD/S Candidate Following Shallow Dives Using the MK 25 Rebreather

Andrew

Boswell

Sebreros³

et al. 2022

Military Medicine

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Pulmonary barotrauma of ascent is a well-recognized risk of compressed air diving in the civilian and military diving communities. Chest imaging is a beneficial adjunct to clinical evaluation in screening select individuals for fitness to dive, evaluating dive-related injuries, and safely returning individuals to diving duty. We present a case of a 26-year-old male U.S. Navy Ensign and Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) candidate who experienced pulmonary barotrauma following two shallow dives to a maximum depth of 18 feet of seawater using the MK-25 100% oxygen rebreather. A chest radiograph showed a left upper lobe peripheral wedge-shaped opacity abutting the pleural surface. A subsequent computerized tomography (CT) scan of the chest showed multifocal areas of peripheral pulmonary hemorrhage associated with small pneumatoceles. Two months after the diving injury, chest CT showed resolution of the pulmonary hemorrhage and pneumatoceles. Diving-related pulmonary barotrauma occurs most often secondary to breath-holding on ascent by inexperienced divers and is one of the most common diving injuries seen in BUD/S candidates. The risk of pulmonary barotrauma may be decreased through adequate training and thorough medical screening to include assessing for symptoms of infection before every dive. In cases of acute pulmonary barotrauma, chest radiographs may be used to screen for thoracic injury. Chest CT with inspiratory and expiratory sequences should be used to screen dive candidates on a case-by-case basis and to evaluate lung injury and predisposing pulmonary conditions following pulmonary barotrauma.

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Pneumomediastinum and the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment

Price¹,

Price²,

Johnston³

2021

Diving Hyperb Med

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Pulmonary barotrauma may occur in diving and can result in a spectrum of injuries referred to as pulmonary over-inflation syndrome (POIS). Pneumomediastinum is a part of the POIS spectrum and only rarely results in respiratory symptoms. We present a case of a civilian diver who developed pneumomediastinum with respiratory symptoms which did not respond to normobaric 100% oxygen. After investigation for pneumothorax, he underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment which resulted in significant alleviation of his symptoms. This is a novel case example of this treatment algorithm.

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Pulmonary barotrauma: a case report with illustrative radiology

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Pulmonary Barotrauma After Diving Without Breathing Equipment

Pulmonary Barotrauma After Diving Without Breathing Equipment

Pulmonary Barotrauma in a BUD/S Candidate Following Shallow Dives Using the MK 25 Rebreather

Pneumomediastinum and the use of hyperbaric oxygen treatment

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