TY - JOUR PY - 2003// TI - Differential diagnostic problems of decompression sickness--examples from specialist physicians' practices in diving medicine JO - Archives of medical research A1 - Petri, Nadan M. A1 - Andrić, Dejan SP - 26 EP - 30 VL - 34 IS - 1 N2 - It can be expected that the differential diagnosis problem of decompression sickness will increase in the future due to the increasing number of divers. During the last 30 years, 232 divers were treated for decompression sickness (DCS) at the Naval Medical Institute (NMI) in Split, Croatia. In 66 cases (28%), physicians at various diving sites reached diagnosis with difficulty, and 86 divers (37%) came directly to the NMI without seeing a physician first. Physicians at remote diving locations frequently have only basic knowledge of diving medicine and are often inexperienced. The language barrier was a major obstacle in obtaining a medical history and examination of foreign divers. Consultations at the NMI proved a major contribution to correct diagnosis and treatment. We present six illustrative cases from NMI Archives that demonstrate how prejudices, panic, and inexperience could create problems in establishing DCS diagnosis.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0188-4409 UR - http://dx.doi.org/ ID - ref1 ER -