Pulmonary edema after competitive breath-hold diving

Abstract

During an international breath-hold diving competition, 19 of the participating divers volunteered for the present study, aimed at eluci-dating possible symptoms and signs of pulmonary edema after deep dives. Measurements included dynamic spirometry and pulse oxime-try, and chest auscultation was performed on those with the most severe symptoms. After deep dives (25–75 m), 12 of the divers had signs of pulmonary edema. None had any symptoms or signs after shallow pool dives. For the whole group of 19 divers, average reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) were 9 and 12%, respectively, after deep dives compared with after pool dives. In addition, the average reduction in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was 4 % after the deep dives. In six divers, respiratory symptoms (including dys-pnea, cough, fatigue, substernal chest pain or discomfort, and hemop-tysis) were associated with aggravated deteriorations in the physio