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Q:
I have recently been
diagnosed with gallstones.
Can I continue to dive?
A:
According to the National
Institutes of Health, some
700,000 individuals undergo
gallbladder surgery each year.
The gallbladder is a hollow organ
closely associated, both physically
and functionally, with the liver. Its
primary purpose is to collect and
concentrate bile, which is then
introduced into the upper intestine to
assist with digestion. Gallstones are
commonly made up of cholesterol or
bile salts and range in size from very
small flakes to more than 2 inches in
diameter.
For divers, the primary concern with gallstones is the
potential for acute symptom onset while underwater or in a
remote location. When symptoms occur, they often include
intense pain in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen and
may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Diving during an acute attack or when an acute attack
is possible is not recommended. Individuals who have
pre-existing gallstones or experience intermittent cramping
or pain under the right side of the ribcage may want to
strongly consider being evaluated prior to diving or remote
travel. Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy)
and stones is done routinely as a laparoscopic (using small
incisions and a camera) outpatient procedure. Patients are
usually cleared for a return to diving following adequate
healing and clearance by
their physician.
Q:
I read on the
Internet ….
A:
DAN
®
frequently
receives emails
and phone queries
that start off, “I read on the Internet ….” Unfortunately,
the information garnered often lacks a reputable source.
We live in a wonderful age in which answers abound and
information is readily available. In the scientific and medical
communities, source documentation, validation and peer
review are considered necessary criteria for publication. DAN
uses information from scientific and medical literature such
as journal articles and textbooks as a basis for our responses.
Our sources may also include seminars, workshops and case
reports from researchers around the world. DAN responses,
therefore, stem from published scientific literature or
represent the prevailing expert opinion from our network of
physicians and researchers.
Recreational divers connect with DAN at various regional
and national dive shows as well as through Alert Diver
magazine, AlertDiver.com, dive shops, webinars
and local dive events. What the recreational
diving public does not see and may not be aware
of is DAN’s attendance at medical conferences,
workshops and other academic and professional
events. DAN attends meetings of the Undersea
and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS),
American College of Emergency Physicians
(ACEP), Wilderness Medical Society (WMS),
International Association of Dive Rescue
RESEARCH, EDUCATION & MEDICINE
//
F R O M T H E M E D I C A L L I N E
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WINTER 2012
DAN Medics Answer Your
Questions about Dive Medicine
B y J o h N L E E A N d M A T I A s N o c h E T T o
ME D I C A L R F . COM / A L AMY
S T E P H E N F R I N K
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