Scribd
Upload
48 views2 pages

Decompression Illness

Scuba diving has become very popular, but flying after diving can increase the risk of decompression illness (DCI) if not enough time passes between a dive and ascending to altitude. DCI occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in tissues upon ascent to lower pressures. It can cause joint/muscle pain or more serious problems. Guidelines recommend waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive or longer for multiple dives before flying to reduce risk. However, there is no guarantee and individual physiology and dive profiles may still result in DCI even with proper surface intervals. Leaving the last day of a diving trip dive-free is recommended when flying home.

Uploaded by

oktaviano okki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
48 views2 pages

Decompression Illness

Scuba diving has become very popular, but flying after diving can increase the risk of decompression illness (DCI) if not enough time passes between a dive and ascending to altitude. DCI occurs when nitrogen bubbles form in tissues upon ascent to lower pressures. It can cause joint/muscle pain or more serious problems. Guidelines recommend waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive or longer for multiple dives before flying to reduce risk. However, there is no guarantee and individual physiology and dive profiles may still result in DCI even with proper surface intervals. Leaving the last day of a diving trip dive-free is recommended when flying home.

Uploaded by

oktaviano okki
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Decompression Illness (DCI)

Scuba diving has become a very popular sport with literally hundreds of thousands of people taking
diving vacations. Because most of these divers fly to their destination and return home by air, the
relationship between flying and diving must be appreciated.

The issue is the risk of developing DCI if a traveler flies too soon after diving. DCI is caused by excess
nitrogen coming out of solution in the form of microbubbles in different tissues. This is facilitated by
exposure to low barometric pressure (flying) too soon after exposure to high barometric pressure
(diving) and could result in bends (joint/muscle pain), or more serious sequelae such as pulmonary
chokes, neurological dysfunction, or neurocirculatory collapse.

In reality, DCI can occur in any diver (even without postdive flying), particularly if dive table
recommendations are not adhered to. (These tables describe proper procedures for resurfacing.)

When is it safe to fly after diving? A precise answer is difficult because there are few scientific data on
the subject (1). There are, however, some ongoing specific studies at the Hyperbaric Center at Duke
University Medical Center. In addition, Divers Alert Network (DAN) has issued the following flying-after-
diving guidelines based on the findings of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) 1991
Conference (2,3,4).

1. Divers making single dives per diving day should have a minimum surface interval of 12 hours
before ascending to altitude. This includes going to altitude by aircraft, automobile, or any other
means.
2. Divers who make multiple dives per day, or over many days, or dives that require obligated
decompression stops should take special precautions and wait for an extended surface interval
beyond 12 hours before ascending to altitude. Extended surface intervals allow for additional
denitrogenation and may reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms. For those diving
heavily during an extended vacation, it is advisable to take a day off at midweek, or save the last
day to buy those last-minute souvenirs before taking to the air.

There can never be a rule that guarantees the prevention of DCI, no matter how long the surface
interval. Rather, research has produced guidelines that represent the best estimate for the majority of
divers for a conservative, preflight surface interval. There will always be an occasional diver whose
physiological makeup or unique diving circumstances will result in DCI despite adherence to general
guidelines.

Until there are more data from the ongoing research, these are the best recommendations that
physicians can give travelers who plan to dive and fly. In preparing travelers for a diving vacation, the
recommendation to leave the last day dive-free should be emphasized.

Finally, these guidelines assume that there are no signs and/or symptoms of DCI after the dive and
before the flight. If there are, flying is contraindicated before appropriate treatment (recompression) is
carried out.

May 2003 Page 1


REFERENCES:

1. Vann RD, Denoble P, Emmerman MN, Corson KS. Flying after diving and decompression sickness.
Aviat Space Environ Med 1993; 64:801-7.
2. Anon. Alert Diver. 1994; May-June: 12-3,20-3.
3. Bennett PB. DAN resolution of flying after diving guidelines. Alert Diver. 1991; Sept/Oct.
4. Gleason B. SDM editorial. Flying after diving again. Skin Diver. Sept 1991.

May 2003 Page 2

You might also like