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Case Reports
. 2021 Jan 9;16(3):698-700.
doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.01.004. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute-phase decompression sickness

Youichi Yanagawa  1 , Ikuto Takeuchi  1 , Junzo Ishiyama  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute-phase decompression sickness

Youichi Yanagawa et al. Radiol Case Rep. .

Erratum in

Abstract

A 53-year-old man, who performed a 44-minute dive to a depth of 21 meters, felt severe abdominal pain with dyspnea after surfacing. An ultrasound study showed a marked snowstorm pattern in the portal vein of the liver and right ventricle, and whole body computed tomography revealed multiple gas bubbles in the right ventricle, inferior vena cava, portal, mesenteric and femoral vein. He was thus diagnosed to have decompression sickness and was therefore transported to another hospital to undergo hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Patients who present with abdominal symptoms after diving should be immediately evaluated by ultrasound and computed tomography.

Keywords: Decompression sickness; Diagnosis; Ultrasound.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
The patient on arrival. The chest and abdomen show cuitis marmorata.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Ultrasound on arrival. Ultrasound shows a snowstorm pattern in the hepatic portal vein (arrow).
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Computed tomography (CT) on arrival. CT showed multiple gas bubbles in the heart and vascular system (arrow).
Fig4
Fig. 4
Magnetic resonance imaging after undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (upper, diffusion weighted image; lower, apparent diffusion coefficient map). The MRI findings showed multiple cerebral ischemic changes (arrow), which were deemed to be compatible with gas embolism.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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