Atrial septal defect decompression sickness
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Decompression sickness
ASDs, and particularly PFOs, are a predisposing risk factor for decompression sickness in divers because a proportion of venous blood carrying inert gases, such as helium or nitrogen does not pass through the lungs.[1][2] The only way to release the excess inert gases from the body is to pass the blood carrying the inert gases through the lungs to be exhaled. If some of the inert gas-laden blood passes through the PFO, it avoids the lungs and the inert gas is more likely to form large bubbles in the arterial blood stream causing decompression sickness.
References
- ↑ Lier H, Schroeder S, Hering R (2004). "[Patent foramen ovale: an underrated risk for divers?]". Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 129 (1–2): 27–30. PMID 14703578.
- ↑ Saary M, Gray G (2001). "A review of the relationship between patent foramen ovale and type II decompression sickness". Aviat Space Environ Med. 72 (12): 1113–20. PMID 11763113.