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Biomedical subjects

A Boussuges

Publications and source records attributed to A Boussuges.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

[Neurologic accident of decompression: a new indication of transesophageal echocardiography].

Decompression sickness in a 33-year-old SCUBA diver led to neurological lesions with brain damage. The existence of a patent foramen ovale detected with a transoesophageal contrast echocardiography suggested paradoxal gas embolism. This observation emphasizes the intest of transoesophageal contrast echocardiography in decompression sickness as discussed in the literature. Its widely utilization would permit a better understanding of the pathophysiology of decompression sickness. It also may help the physician in deciding whether or not to authorize further diving.

Adult↗

[Prognosis in iatrogenic gas embolism].

Prognosis of iatrogenic air embolism is various according to previous studies. The purpose of this study was to determine the risks factors associated with the prognosis of iatrogenic air embolism. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 113 patients treated with HBO therapy in our hyperbaric center from 1979 to 1993. Initial symptomatology consisted in neurological disorders (71% of cases), respiratory disorders (43% of cases) and hemodynamic disorders (33% of cases). When neurological disorders were observed, HBO therapy included immediate compression to 6 atm abs for 10 to 15 mn with air followed by decompression to 2 atm abs where the patients received 100% oxygen during 1 hour. When no neurological disorders was observed, HBO therapy consisted in an oxygenation for 1 h, 2 atm abs, FiO2 = 1. Overall outcome was: recovery: 69 per cent of cases, sequelae: 26 per cent of cases, death: 5 per cent of cases. Prognosis was very different according to etiologies and existence of neurological disorders. Venous emboli had a better improvement than arterial emboli. In conclusion, patterns of air embolism can be divided clinically into two major categories, cerebral and pulmonary air embolism, which should be individualised in clinical studies. The studies must also individualised etiologies.

Adolescent↗

[Intra-alveolar hemorrhage. An uncommon accident in a breath holding diver].

To date, pulmonary oedema in breath hold divers has only been reported after dives below 50 meters, hypoxaemic syncope being the most common risk. We recently observed a 35-year-old well-trained breath hold diver who was unable to achieve deep inspiration during a high-level competition. After two hours of repeated dives to a depth of 25 meters for approximately 2-minute periods with intermittent recovery the patient developed cough and haemoptysis. The chest X-ray revealed lung images suggestive of intra-alveolar haemorrhage. The patient had taken 1 g of aspirin per os for three days prior to diving. Symptoms subsided spontaneously in 48 hours and one month later all haematology tests were normal except for minimal alteration of platelet aggregation. Pulmonary oedema in breath hold divers is usually attributed to blood shift to the pulmonary circulation related to the lowered intra-thoracic pressure. In our case, oedema was secondary to intra-alveolar haemorrhage favoured by aspirin which should be avoided before breath hold diving.

Adult↗