Dive Medicine

Question 1

IT responsibilities

Answer 1

Releasing door latches after seal is made
Comms w outside personnel
First aid
Vital signs
Administering TX gas
Monitor for CNS/Pulmonary O2 Tox
Ear pro
Ensure patient is lying down

Question 2

Basic rule for diagnosing an AGE

Answer 2

Any diver who has obtained a breath from compressed gas who surfaces unconscious, loses consciousness, or any neurological sx w in 10 min of reavjing surface must be assumed to be suffering from AGE.

Question 3

What is a higher priority than recompression in an unconscious diver?

Answer 3

Establishing a pulse and respiration if the diver surfaces without a pulse and not breathing

Question 4

Is pain alone likely to be an AGE?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

Some SX of AGE

Answer 5

Altered consciousness
Paralysis
Convulsions
Paresthesia
Vision changes
Personality changes

Question 6

Do not overlook what what conditions when treating an AGE?

Answer 6

Sub Q/mediastinal emphysema, pneumothorax, pneumopericardium.

Question 7

Initial decompression when treating AGE is going to which depth?

Answer 7

60 ft

Question 8

Most common sites of joint pain when a patient is suffering from DCS Type 1

Answer 8

Shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, knee, and ankle.

Question 9

Pain occurring in which areas should be treated as DCS Type 2?

Answer 9

Abdominal, thoracic, hips.

Additionally, pain in ribs between spinal column, radicular pain or visceral pain indicated CNS involvement

Question 10

Should joint pain be treated with drugs or o2 during evaluation of a dive injury?

Answer 10

No.

Pain may be the only way to localize problem and monitor progress of treatment.

Question 11

Three types of DCS Type 2

Answer 11

Neurological. Inner ear. Cardiopulmonary.

Question 12

Inner ear decompression sickness occurs most often in which type of diving?

Answer 12

Helium-oxygen diving and during decompression when switching from helium-oxygen to air.

Question 13

Nystagmus is not typically present in if the decompression sickness is localized where?

Answer 13

Cerebellum.

Nystagmus may be seen with inner ear DCS

Question 14

What causes the symptoms of cardiopulmonary DCS?

Answer 14

Profuse intravascular bubbling causing congestion in a patients lung circulation

Question 15

Symptoms of cardiopulmonary DCS

Answer 15

May start as chest pain aggravated by breathing and/or cough.
Increased respiration
Circulatory collapse
LOC

Question 16

When treating cardiopulmonary DCS, differentiate from this condition, which does not require recompression.

Answer 16

Pneumothorax (if no other signs of DCS or AGE is present)

Question 17

Is there any reason to delay treatment to establish the diagnosis of AGE vs DCS Type 2

Answer 17

No.

Question 18

What warrants full extensions at 60fsw even if sx resolve during the first oxygen breathing period?

Answer 18

Severe DCS Type 2 sx. (Paralysis, major weakness, memory loss, LOC)