A 32-year-old diver ascended 60 feet and has abdominal distension; what is the recommended action?

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Multiple Choice

A 32-year-old diver ascended 60 feet and has abdominal distension; what is the recommended action?

When a diver ascends and develops abdominal distension, think decompression illness and the presence of gas bubbles in tissues. The most critical step is to get the person to definitive treatment as quickly as possible. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the only proven treatment that compresses the bubbles and oxygenates tissues, speeding bubble resolution and improving outcomes. Therefore, the best action is rapid transport to a facility with a hyperbaric chamber. As an immediate measure, providing high-flow oxygen en route supports bubble resorption, but it does not replace the need for recompression therapy. Administering pain meds delays definitive care, and simply transporting to a generic hospital without hyperbaric capability won’t address the underlying problem promptly.

When a diver ascends and develops abdominal distension, think decompression illness and the presence of gas bubbles in tissues. The most critical step is to get the person to definitive treatment as quickly as possible. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the only proven treatment that compresses the bubbles and oxygenates tissues, speeding bubble resolution and improving outcomes. Therefore, the best action is rapid transport to a facility with a hyperbaric chamber. As an immediate measure, providing high-flow oxygen en route supports bubble resorption, but it does not replace the need for recompression therapy. Administering pain meds delays definitive care, and simply transporting to a generic hospital without hyperbaric capability won’t address the underlying problem promptly.

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