A diver with abdominal pain after ascent should be transported to which facility?

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Multiple Choice

A diver with abdominal pain after ascent should be transported to which facility?

Decompression illness is the situation here. After ascent, gas bubbles can form in tissues and blood, causing pain and organ symptoms—abdominal pain can be one presentation. The essential treatment is rapid recompression in a hyperbaric chamber with high‑flow oxygen, which reduces bubble size and improves tissue oxygenation. Because time matters, the patient should be transported as quickly as possible to a facility equipped for hyperbaric therapy, so they can receive definitive treatment without delay. Giving oxygen or providing only pain relief helps comfort, but it doesn’t address the underlying issue of gas bubbles, so it’s not adequate on its own. Pushing for rapid ground transport to a hyperbaric chamber ensures the best chance of a full recovery.

Decompression illness is the situation here. After ascent, gas bubbles can form in tissues and blood, causing pain and organ symptoms—abdominal pain can be one presentation. The essential treatment is rapid recompression in a hyperbaric chamber with high‑flow oxygen, which reduces bubble size and improves tissue oxygenation. Because time matters, the patient should be transported as quickly as possible to a facility equipped for hyperbaric therapy, so they can receive definitive treatment without delay. Giving oxygen or providing only pain relief helps comfort, but it doesn’t address the underlying issue of gas bubbles, so it’s not adequate on its own. Pushing for rapid ground transport to a hyperbaric chamber ensures the best chance of a full recovery.

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