Decompression sickness following repeated breath-hold dives

Abstract

A report is given of a case of apparent decompression sickness after repetitive breath-hold dives to depths of 50–66 ft (15–20 m). Three similar cases in Norwegian Navy escape-training-tank instructors are also discussed. A parallel is drawn between the Scandinavian cases and the“pearl diver disease”(taravana), found in the Tuamotu Archipelago in the South Pacific. Symptoms and signs in these conditions are consistent with the diagnosis of decompression sickness. It is emphasized that in such cases immediate recompression is the treatment of choice. Consideration of various depths and patterns of breath-hold diving in terms of nitrogen uptake and elimination permits the relative risk of decompression sickness to be predicted with the help of decompression tables. skin diving; recompression; repetitive diving; nitrogen uptake; taravana; nitrogen elimination Submitted on September 25, 1964