[Neurologic decompression sickness in sports divers].

Background: Sports diving is a popular recreational activity. Sports divers presenting with acute decompression sickness may exhibit residual neurologic and neuropsychological symptoms during follow-up, in spite of appropriate treatment.
Material and Methods: A retrospective review of medical records was carried out for sports divers admitted to the department of neurology at Haukeland University Hospital during 1997.
Results: 11 out of 20 divers experienced residual neurological symptoms after treatment. Five responded poorly to treatment, with 50% or more residual clinical score. These patients tended to be older, had performed deeper dives, and more repetitive diving. Seven divers had increased slow wave activity in EEG on initial recording, in two the EEG changes persisted after treatment.
Interpretation: In this small series of sports divers with decompression sickness and arterial gas embolism, most neurologic symptoms responded to hyperbaric treatment. However, more than one half of the divers had residual neurological symptoms on discharge. Sensory loss and asymmetrical reflexes were the most common residual findings.