Medical problems associated with underwater diving

Abstract

The rapid growth in the number of people using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) for recreation and the increase in associated casualties have placed greater importance on undersea medicine. The change in the ambient pressure underwater may cause physiologic alterations that may pose particularly challenging diagnostic and treatment-related dilemmas. The aim of this report is to provide a brief overview of the medical problems associated with underwater diving, for which rapid diagnosis and treatment may be critical.