Recompression Therapy Under Emergency Conditions: A Case of Type II Decompression Sickness

Decompression sickness presents with a great variety of signs and symptoms that might affect any part of the human body including joints, skin, cardio respiratory and nervous systems. In this manuscript, we reported a case of severe neurological Type II Decompression sickness who received recompression therapy. A 53-year-old man presented at the emergency service of our hospital with history of diving in the Black Sea. He had made an uncontrolled ascent at the final dive. The patient arrived at the emergency service with loss of consciousness. A physical examination revealed paresthesia of the left arm and hand after he had regained consciousness. Anal sphincter tonus was reduced. The patient had urinary and fecal incontinence as well as a characteristic rash (cutis marmorata) on the body. After the initial treatment the patient was transported to the Hyperbaric Unit where he recovered completely after administration of hyperbaric treatment. Emergency treatment of this potentially life-threatening disease includes providing basic life support, horizontal positioning of the patient, administration of 100% normobaric oxygen, followed by an early transfer to the nearest hyperbaric facility for definitive recompression treatment to prevent serious neurological sequelae.