I have a question regarding the risk of extra decompression illness
due to physical trauma.
Last year I was hit by a car (damn Lada’s 
) and broke my (upper
left) leg. The guy in the ambulance estimated that I lost at least one
liter of blood due to large internal bleedings. Early this year I had
a physical examination to see whether or not I was still fit for scuba
diving. The test included some controlled exercise on a hometrainer
(ergometer). The physician thought I would be OK. However when I
compared the new test results on the ergometer with results of a
similar test in 1988 I noted some change, which was overlooked by the
doctor. During exercise my blood pressure rises to 210/70 now. It was
160/70 during the previous test. At rest my blood pressure is normal
i.e. 120/80. The heart rate in both tests was around 180. At peak
exercise my output was 270 Watt in both tests.
My own explanation is that some large arteries in my upper left leg
have been ruptured during the accident. The smaller arteries have
taken over in the mean time, but I think that they have a higher flow
resistance. Consequently the blood pressure must be higher to supply
enough blood to the muscles. During such exercise the mean consumers
of oxygen in the body are the active muscles in the leg. Therefore the
blood pressure (and flow) will be according to their demand.
(I have no medical education, but I find physiology very interesting.)
As the PADI diving encyclopedia mentions healed bone fractures and
impaired blood supply to tissues as risk factors for decompression
illness I am worried about the above mentioned results. The doctor
who treated the fracture told me that he has no knowledge on this
subject.
Can anybody with knowledge on physiology
and diving comment on this.
Thanks in advance.
Wim Hoeks
Note Reply to:w…@vangogh.prl.philips.nl
(FLAME ON
Anybody stupid enough to buy a Lada cannot be trusted to be a
good driver.
FLAME OFF)