Pulmonary barotrauma

Background

  • Occurs when diver breathing compressed air ascends too rapidly

Barotrauma Types

Diving Physiology

  • Pascals Law applies to the diving body (without air filled areas such as lungs) states that the pressure applied to any part of the enclosed liquid will be transmitted equally in all directions through the liquid.
  • Boyles Law applies to the diving body's air filled areas such as lungs, sinuses, middle ear, and states that the volume and pressure of a gas at a given temperature are inversely related.
    • At 2 ATA (10m/33ft) a given gas would be 1/2 it's volume, at 3 ATA (20m/66ft) it would be 1/3 it's volume and so on.
Boyle's Law

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Diving Emergencies

Barotrauma Types

Evaluation

  • Clinical diagnosis; do not delay intervention for studies
  • CXR
  • Assess for alternate etiologies

Management

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References