| Abstrakt: |
This article from Alert Diver explains the condition known as patent foramen ovale (PFO) and its implications for divers. The author describes how the heart develops before birth, with a flap between the two top chambers that allows oxygenated blood to bypass the right side of the heart. In about 25% of people, this flap never seals and is called a PFO. For divers with a PFO, bubbles that the lungs normally filter can cross from the right atrium to the left atrium under certain conditions, increasing the risk of decompression sickness (DCS). The article discusses the options for divers with a PFO who experience DCS, including conservative diving practices and, in some cases, a PFO closure procedure. [Extracted from the article] |
