Br J Sports Med 1998;32:75–76 75

Diaphragmatic rupture resulting from Br J Sports Med: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.32.1.75 on 1 March 1998. Downloaded from gastrointestinal in a scuba diver

J D Hayden, J B Davies, I G Martin

Abstract dive, with a bottom time of 15 minutes. During A fit young man sustained a ruptured dia- routine ascent from this depth, he developed a phragm during a recreational scuba dive sudden onset of epigastric discomfort and three months after undergoing an uncom- abdominal distension with tightening of his plicated laparoscopic Nissen fundoplica- control device (BCD). This was fol- tion for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. lowed by a sensation of tearing in the chest, It is proposed that this rare occurrence increasing dyspnoea, and anxiety. These symp- was attributable to gastrointestinal baro- toms initially improved at the surface with trauma. The injury was treated by inhalation of and removal of his BCD, laparotomy, mobilisation of herniated ab- belt, and wet suit. Four days later, he dominal viscera back into the abdomen, presented to his general practitioner with a his- repair of the crura and gastropexy. He tory of progressive malaise, anorexia, nausea, made a full postoperative recovery. It is and shortness of breath. Examination showed concluded that should be hyper-resonance and reduced air entry in the avoided in patients who have undergone left lower chest. A plain chest x ray showed fundoplication. bowel shadowing in the left hemithorax (fig 2). (Br J Sports Med 1998;32:75–76) A barium meal showed diaphragmatic hernia- tion of 70% of the stomach into the thorax Keywords: scuba diving; diaphragmatic rupture; (fig 3). gastrointestinal barotrauma Laparotomy showed a diaphragmatic tear at the oesophageal hiatus in the left limb of the Case history right crus and extrusion of at least three quar- A 36 year old man underwent laparoscopic ters of the stomach and most of the transverse fundoplication for gastro-oesophageal reflux colon into the chest. These organs were mobi- disease that had failed to respond to medical lised back into the abdomen. The previous 1 treatment. Briefly, the gastrohepatic omentum fundal wrap was found to be still intact. The was divided and the right crus was exposed. A diaphragmatic defect was closed and a gas- window was created behind the oesophagus to tropexy was performed. He made an unevent- visualise the left crus, which was approximated ful postoperative recovery and was advised not http://bjsm.bmj.com/ over to the right and repaired. The fundus was to scuba dive. mobilised and brought behind the oesophagus. A short floppy Nissen was fashioned over a 50 French bougie (fig 1). He made an uneventful Discussion postoperative recovery and had a good func- Barotrauma is a tissue injury that results from tional outcome, with no symptoms suggestive the failure of a gas filled body space to balance of “gas bloat”. its internal against changes in the 2 Three months later, he attended a Profes- environmental pressure. In scuba diving, on September 27, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. sional Association of Diving Instructors intro- pulmonary barotrauma is the most severe form ductory scuba dive while on holiday outside the and occurs during ascent when the ambient United Kingdom. He had not received a medi- pressure reduces and airway volumes expand. cal examination before the event. A maximum Failure to release the expanded gas can result depth of 12 metres was reached during the in relatively minor injuries, which include mid-

Oesophagus Diaphragmatic Division of Surgery, crura Centre for Digestive Diseases, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds Fundal wrap J D Hayden J B Davies I G Martin

Correspondence to: Dr J D Hayden, Division of Surgery, E Floor, Martin Wing, The General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds LS1 3EX. Figure 1 Nissen fundoplication. The fundus of the stomach is wrapped around behind the oesophagus and Accepted for publication sutured anteriorly. The crural repair lies behind the Figure 2 A plain chest x ray showing the abnormal 22 July 1997 oesophagus. presence of bowel shadowing in the left lower field. 76 Hayden, Davies, Martin

Diving complications arising as a result of Br J Sports Med: first published as 10.1136/bjsm.32.1.75 on 1 March 1998. Downloaded from gastrointestinal gas expansion are rare, al- though rupture of the stomach is reported.5 A review of the medical literature suggests that this is the first report of a barotraumatic rupture of the diaphragm. We propose that this occurred because of the failure to regurgitate air swallowed at depth during the ascent. It is surprising that the patient was not suVering from “gas bloat” before this injury.6 Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a comparatively safe and eVective procedure for the management of gastro-oesophageal reflux.1 Crural rupture is reported in 1% of cases, usu- ally in the early postoperative period.1 It is vital that patients who have undergone fundoplica- tion seek medical advice before undertaking activities associated with a change in baro- metric pressure. It must be emphasised that the risk of barotrauma is greatest nearer the surface where a comparatively small change in depth results in a larger change in volume of gas.2 We conclude that scuba diving after fundopli- Figure 3 Contrast meal examination showed herniation of cation is potentially hazardous and should be 70% of the stomach into the chest. avoided.

dle and inner ear and paranasal air sinus baro- trauma or life threatening conditions such as 1 Hinder RA, Filipi CJ, Wetscher G, Neary P, DeMeester TR, Perdikis G. Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is an eVec- pneumothorax, ruptured pulmonary veins, and tive treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ann Surg .2 Examples of non-pulmonary 1994;220:472–83. 3 2 Melamed Y, Shupak A, Bitterman H. Medical problems barotrauma include mask squeeze, skin baro- associated with . N Engl J Med trauma, and facial baroparesis.4 This mech- 1992;326:30–5. 3 Edmonds C, Thomas RL. Medical aspects of diving - part anism of injury does not occur in snorkel 3. Med J Aust 1972;2: 1300–4. divers. In this situation, the airways are initially 4 Eidsvik S, Molvaer OI. Facial baroparesis: a report of five cases. Undersea Biomed Res 1985;12:459–63. filled at . The subsequent 5 Molenat FA, Boussuges AH. Rupture of the stomach com- change in barometric pressure is not accompa- plicating diving accidents. Undersea Hyperb Med 1995;22: 87–96. nied by a substantial increase in volume above 6 Myrvold HE. Laparoscopic antireflux surgery - the merits the total lung capacity. and problems. Ann Med 1995;27:29–33. http://bjsm.bmj.com/ Commentary is one of the most rapidly growing pastimes. Most doctors have received no formal training in and assume, often incorrectly, that the fitness requirements for scuba diving are similar to those for other types of sport. In fact many people have medical conditions that represent a when scuba diving, yet present no risk for participation in sports on land or even . The case described in this report highlights that when considering the fitness on September 27, 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. of a person to dive it is essential to consider all the physical laws that may operate. In particular we need to be aware of the considerable pressure and volume changes in viscera resulting from a small change in depth when scuba diving. P WILMSHURST