Advanced Dive Medicine Differential Diagnosis

Question 1

Important considerations

Answer 1

Preceding symptoms - Dehydration - injury

Question 2

Important Considerations cont

Answer 2

Which part of the dive - descent/bottom/ascent/deco/surface

Question 3

DCS Type I Symptoms

Answer 3

Joint pain (Musculoskeletal)/Marbeling/Swelling pain in the lymph nodes

Question 4

DCS Type II Symptoms

Answer 4

Neurological / Inner Ear (Staggers)/ Cardio pulmonary (Chokes)

Question 5

Chest Pain Causes

Answer 5

Pulmonary DCS, Spinal DCS, Pulmonary 02 toxcicity, POIS, Heart Attack, Trauma, Thoracic Squeeze, Anxiety

Question 6

Cardio Pulmonary DCS (Chokes) Symptoms

Answer 6

Omitted a large amount of Deco, Pain becomes aggressively worse in chest - Burning, Distress, Cough, Dyspnea

Question 7

Spinal Cord DCS

Answer 7

Pain Radiates causing a girdle like SX, Dull or lancing, Lead to other type II Symptoms

Question 8

Pulmonary O2 Toxicity

Answer 8

Long exposure of 02 greater than .5 ATA, Pain on inspiration, cough, dyspnea

Question 9

Pneumothorax Simple

Answer 9

Medical Xray, Rule out AGE

Question 10

Pneumothorax Tension

Answer 10

Pain will be static/lateral/Lack of breath sounds on affected side, neuro to rule out AGE

Question 11

Mediastinal Emphysema

Answer 11

Pain tightness under breast bone dull. May radiate down shoulder or back may increase upon inspiration coughing swallowing. Medical to rule out age or pneumo

Question 12

Heart Attack

Answer 12

SubSternal Chest Pain, Acute setting, Age and fitness level

Question 13

Thoracic Squeeze

Answer 13

failure of non return valve, bloody sputum difficulty breathing.