Microbiological analysis of the variation in the bacterial flora of the external auditory canal was carried out during 39 immersion in saturated solutions. A double blind test on the usefulness of prophylactic and therapeutic preparations was also carried out. Prophylactics. - 5% Al acetate in H2O (P1), Boric alcohol (P2), lactic acid in H2O (P3, Domeboro (P4), no prophylactic (P0). After the immersions, a significant increase in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Candida Albicans (p less than 0,01) was noted in the auricular bacterial flora. Gram positive bacteria in general were considerably reduced (p less than 0,01). Gram negative bacteria other than pseudomonas. A (p less than 0,3) and coagulase negative straphylococci (p less than 0,03) did not vary significantly. Prophylactic preparations P1 and P2 were shown to be significantly more effective than P3, P4 and P0 in preventing the symptomatology (p less than 0,01). The most effective therapeutic preparation was found to be a locally applied gentamycinpolymixin association.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

[Evaluations of 169 cases of decompression sickness treated in Italian hyperbaric centers 1980-1981].

An assessment was made of 169 cases of decompression sickness occurring during the period 1980-81. Nearly all (95,6%) were attributable to superficial planning and execution of the immersion and reascent to the surface marker as the result of panic. Breakdown in the diving apparatus was only responsible in 4.4% of cases. Irrispective of the intermediate decompression stages, the rate of reascent was more than 10 metres a minute in 71.6% of cases. Full recovery as a result of hyperbaric management was obtained in 78,2% type I sickness and 61.9% type II, with improvements in 17.3% and 35.1% respectively. The interval between emersion and treatment ranged from 1 to 72 hr, though the results of treatment were not significantly related to the rapidity of intervention (p greater than 0.05). Good results were dependent on the type of treatment employed, with a significantly better outcome (p less than 0.01) from U.S. Navy tables 2-2A, 3-3A, 4, 5 and 6 and the 2 + 6 recompression protocol, than from tables 5A and 6A.

Decompression Sickness↗

PubMed1983

[Physiopathologic changes and morbidity in divers in saturation. Epidemiologic evaluation of 9 years' activities (1973-1982)].

An epidemiological study was made of 315 man-saturations over a period of 4508 days worked in saturation. The results were compared with those from 541 drillers working on a high-isolation site for periods of 30 days per shift making a total of 16,230 working days. Saturation was asymptomatic in 15,9%. The average length of conditions not interfering with diving or work was 3 days in the sample and 4 days in the controls. There were only two instances of type I decompression sickness in the divers (0,6%). These were both resolved without complications. Two subjects had to give up for health reasons (one case of parotitis and one anxiety-depression syndrome). It is felt that saturation is a very safe procedure as far as immediate pathological consequences are concerned, and that its minor pathological forms are of a significantly different type from those of the control series, especially with regard to ORL forms, upper airway conditions, sleep disturbances, and sensations of malaise and poor adaptation.

Anxiety Disorders↗

PubMed1983

[Changes in the health status in occupational under-water activities].

For the past 10 years of so, Italian professional divers have had obligatory medical check-ups once a year. These check-ups are based on International standards and are particularly important for divers going to work abroad or in the open sea. The present report is based on clinical data about 100 professional divers aged 20-50. The subjects had worked 1-30 years accumulating a total of 200-5000 shallow dives. 41% had also done deep work using intervention and saturation techniques. No significant incidence of common was encountered. Radiology revealed bone alterations in 52 subjects (to the joints in 17 cases). Hearing problems were encountered in 47 divers, mostly slight and often totally or partially cured during the observation period. 5 subjects were found to be unsuitable for saturation work. The aetiopathogenetic significance of the alterations encountered is discussed in terms of the type and duration of diving practised.

Adult↗