Neurologic complications of scuba diving

Recreational scuba diving has become a popular sport in the United States, with almost 9 million certified divers. When severe diving injury occurs, t he nervous system is frequently involved. In dive-related barotrauma, compr essed or expanding gas within the ears, sinuses and lungs causes various fo rms of neurologic injury. Otic barotrauma often induces pain, vertigo and h earing loss. In pulmonary barotrauma of ascent, lung damage can precipitate arterial gas embolism, causing blockage of cerebral blood vessels and alte rations of consciousness; seizures and focal neurologic deficits. In patien ts with decompression sickness, the vestibular system, spinal cord and brai n are affected by the formation of nitrogen bubbles. Common signs and sympt oms include vertigo, thoracic myelopathy with leg weakness, confusion, head ache and hemiparesis. Other diving-related neurologic complications include headache and oxygen toxicity.