Tom Crowley
18-10-2006, 16:44
I hope that this will generate a good discussion. I was a regular diver up until about 2.5 years ago when I suffered a Spontaneous Pneumothorax early in the morning. I then had a minor recurrence about 4 months after at which point I booked my self in for an open plueroectomy on my right lung. Since this time I have had no problems, twitching or recurrences and no evidence of similar behaviour in my other lung.
I wish to start diving again but as it stands I won't pass the medical as i fall in a grey area. The UK Sport DivingMedical Commitee states 'The medical committee has therefore adopted the pragmatic approach of accepting that in individuals with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax who have had a bilateral pleurectomy or who are unoperated upon but had no pneumothorax for five years the risk of pulmonary barotrauma is small and not significantly greater than for many in the general population e.g. smokers. Such individuals may dive provided that a CT scan of the chest and lung function tests, including flow-volume loops, show no reason to suggest that there is significant residual lung disease.'.
So in my current position I have had only one pluerectomy. Is it the case that in another 2.5 years if there have been no recurrences I will be able to dive provided I pass my dive medical or will I be refused as i Haven't had a bilateral pleurectomy. I have heard that this may be the case and should it be the case?
many thanks
I wish to start diving again but as it stands I won't pass the medical as i fall in a grey area. The UK Sport DivingMedical Commitee states 'The medical committee has therefore adopted the pragmatic approach of accepting that in individuals with a history of spontaneous pneumothorax who have had a bilateral pleurectomy or who are unoperated upon but had no pneumothorax for five years the risk of pulmonary barotrauma is small and not significantly greater than for many in the general population e.g. smokers. Such individuals may dive provided that a CT scan of the chest and lung function tests, including flow-volume loops, show no reason to suggest that there is significant residual lung disease.'.
So in my current position I have had only one pluerectomy. Is it the case that in another 2.5 years if there have been no recurrences I will be able to dive provided I pass my dive medical or will I be refused as i Haven't had a bilateral pleurectomy. I have heard that this may be the case and should it be the case?
many thanks