Arterial gas embolism after decompression: Correlation with right-to-left shunting

Paradoxical gas embolism is a possible cause of neurologic sequelae after d ecompression in divers. The authors detected arterial bubbles after decompr ession from chamber dives in two of six divers using transcranial Doppler s onography (TCD). Arterial bubbles correlated with the size of right-to-left shunting as diagnosed by contrast TCD. The pathway of spontaneous paradoxi cal embolism was tracked for the first time, supporting the concept of para doxical gas embolism as a cause of early neurologic sequelae after decompre ssion in at-risk divers.