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Oxygen Toxicity

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Oxygen Toxicity

  • Pathophysiology
  1. Scuba Diving related injury
  2. Oxygen free-radical related neurologic toxicity
  • Predisposing factors
  1. Diving with Nitrox (32 to 36% Oxygen breathing mixture)
  • Symptoms (develop at depth without warning)
  1. Seizures
    1. Focal: Facial or lip twitching (60% of patients)
    2. Generalized Seizures in 10% of patients (often fatal)
  2. Vertigo
  3. Nausea or Vomiting
  4. Paresthesias
  5. Visual constriction
  6. Respiratory changes
  • Management
  1. Reduce oxygen exposure
  2. Seizure Management as needed
  • References
  1. Clenney (1996) Am Fam Physician 53(5):1761-6 [PubMed]
  2. Newton (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(11): 2211-2226 [PubMed]