Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Scuba Diving.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-1-2020
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Decompression illness often presents with a wide variety of vague neurologic symptoms. Animal models have suggested that intracranial hemorrhages may result from nitrogen bubble ischemic insults. However, there is a paucity of cases and no known case reported to date of non-aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after rapid ascension from diving.
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 60-year-old man presented with headache, nausea, emesis, and confusion 2 days after ascending rapidly from scuba diving. Given the severity and his symptoms unremitting despite oxygen at home, a computed tomography scan of the head was obtained revealing a prepontine and right sylvian fissure subarachnoid hemorrhage with ventriculomegaly. No underlying vascular abnormality was discovered. The patient was discharged from the hospital posthemorrhage day 7, neurologically intact.
CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting with persistent headache, nausea, emesis and/or other neurologic symptoms after diving, health care providers should consider intracranial hemorrhage in their work up.
Volume
141
First Page
153
Last Page
156
ISSN
1878-8769
Published In/Presented At
Piper, K., Screven, R., Agazzi, S., Guerrero, W. R., & Dombrowski, K. (2020). Nonaneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Scuba Diving. World neurosurgery, 141, 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2020.06.030
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
32540293
Department(s)
Fellows and Residents
Document Type
Article