Should computed chest tomography be recommended in the medical certification of professional divers? A report of three cases with pulmonary air cysts

Toklu A. S., Kiyan E., Aktas S., Cimsit M.

OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE, cilt.60, sa.8, ss.606-608, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 60 Sayı: 8
  • Basım Tarihi: 2003
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1136/oem.60.8.606
  • Dergi Adı: OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.606-608
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) is a recognised risk of compressed gas diving. Any reason that causes air trapping in the lung during ascent may cause PBT by increasing intrapulmonary pressure. Chest x ray examination is mandatory for medical certification of the professional divers in many countries, but pulmonary air trapping lesions such as an air cyst in the lungs cannot always be detected by plain chest x ray examination. Computed tomography (CT) is a reliable, but expensive measure for detecting pulmonary abnormalities in divers. Three cases with pulmonary air cysts are reported in which air cysts were invisible on the x ray pictures, but well defined by CT. It is impractical and not cost effective to perform CT for medical certification of all divers, but it can be an option to recommend CT once during the initial examination of the candidates for professional diving, especially if there is a history of predisposing factors, such as smoking or pulmonary infections.

Should computed chest tomography be recommended in the medical certification of professional divers? A report of three cases with pulmonary air cysts

By:Toklu, AS (Toklu, AS); Kiyan, E (Kiyan, E); Aktas, S (Aktas, S); Cimsit, M (Cimsit, M)

 

OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE

 

Volume: 60

Issue: 8

Pages: 606-608

DOI: 10.1136/oem.60.8.606

Published: AUG 2003

View Journal Information

OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE

 

JCR® Category Quartile in Category
PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, SCI Q1

 

Data from the latest edition of Journal Citation Reports®

Publisher BRITISH MED JOURNAL PUBL GROUP, BRITISH MED ASSOC HOUSE, TAVISTOCK SQUARE, LONDON WC1H 9JR, ENGLAND

ISSN: 1351-0711

Research Domain Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Abstract

Pulmonary barotrauma (PBT) is a recognised risk of compressed gas diving. Any reason that causes air trapping in the lung during ascent may cause PBT by increasing intrapulmonary pressure. Chest x ray examination is mandatory for medical certification of the professional divers in many countries, but pulmonary air trapping lesions such as an air cyst in the lungs cannot always be detected by plain chest x ray examination. Computed tomography (CT) is a reliable, but expensive measure for detecting pulmonary abnormalities in divers. Three cases with pulmonary air cysts are reported in which air cysts were invisible on the x ray pictures, but well defined by CT. It is impractical and not cost effective to perform CT for medical certification of all divers, but it can be an option to recommend CT once during the initial examination of the candidates for professional diving, especially if there is a history of predisposing factors, such as smoking or pulmonary infections.

Author Information

Reprint Address: Toklu, AS (reprint author)

Istanbul Tip Fak, Deniz Sualti Hekimligi AD, TR-34390 Capa, Turkey.
  Organization-Enhanced Name(s)
    Istanbul University

 

Addresses:

[ 1 ] Istanbul Univ, Istanbul Fac Med, Dept Underwater & Hyperbar Med, Istanbul, Turkey
  Organization-Enhanced Name(s)
    Istanbul University
[ 2 ] Istanbul Univ, Istanbul Fac Med, Dept Resp Dis, Istanbul, Turkey