Pre-hospital Management of Decompression Illness: Towards Development of Definitive Modern Guidelines

About the Course

The basic steps in management of decompression illness (DCI) in the pre-hospital setting seem relatively simple, but errors are frequently made and aspects of the triage of unwell divers for evacuation and recompression (or not) remain controversial. The Divers Alert Network has commissioned a panel of independent experts to review this matter and to produce a consensus (guided where possible by evidence) on optimal pre-hospital management of DCI. This pre-course has been scheduled as part of that initiative, and it will serve two broad purposes. First, it will be an educational and update opportunity for attendees who will hear detailed presentations on a variety of related topics given by the experts invited to be part of the review committee. Second, the discussion sessions will provide an opportunity for attendees to express views and opinions which will allow the committee members to calibrate their interim conclusions against the ideas emanating from a wider audience when finalizing the guidelines in their subsequent deliberations.

The triage of divers located remotely from a consulting expert is likely to constitute one of the most interesting discussions. It is now more than 10 years since the “Remote Workshop” in Sydney produced a definition of “mild DCI” and determined that divers whose symptoms and circumstances conformed to that definition could be managed adequately without recompression. Although considered a radical step at the time, the definition has subsequently been applied in many cases of DCI in remote locations without any emerging signal that unforeseen adverse consequences are occurring. Indeed, some commentators have opined that the relatively conservative definition of “mild DCI” could be made more liberal in ways that will be discussed at this course.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to the background, purpose and format of the Pre-course
• Presentations of decompression illness and diagnostic pearls
• First aid strategies for decompression illness and the evidence underpinning them
• Common pitfalls when divers present to hospitals or doctors without expertise in diving medicine
• Remote triage of the possible decompression illness case by diving medicine experts
• Transporting a diver with decompression illness and the effect of increasing delay to recompression on outcome
• The controversial issue of in water recompression
• Closing remarks
• Discussion and question/answer time at the end of each individual video

Price:

• UHMS Associate Member: $106.25
• UHMS Regular Member: $148.75
• Non-Member: $191.25

Estimated time to complete this activity: 8.5 hours

Target audience: This course is strongly recommended for physicians, CHTs, nurses, and paramedics interested in the pre-hospital management of DCI.

Accreditation Statement: The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physician.

Designation Statements (CME/CEU Approvals):

Physician CME: The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 8.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

MOC ABPM: The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) has approved this activity for a maximum of 6.00 LLSA credits towards ABPM MOC Part II requirements.

Nursing/RRT: This enduring material is approved for 8.50 contact hours provided by Florida Board of Registered Nursing/RRT Provider #50-10881.

For NBDHMT: This enduring material is approved for 8.50 Category A credit hours by National Board of Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology, 9 Medical Park, Suite 440, Columbia, South Carolina 29203

Termination Date: January 3, 2023

Disclaimer: The information provided by this CME material is for Continuing Medical Education purposes only. The lecture content, statements or opinions expressed however, do not necessarily represent those of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS), its affiliates or its employees.

Goal: For over 40 years the UHMS has been the primary source of information for hyperbaric medicine and physiology worldwide. This enduring material has as its goal to address identified professional practice gaps and provide a quality CME opportunity which will improve scientific knowledge and skills for hyperbaric and wound care: physicians, nurses and technicians, and other clinicians and personnel whose practice includes hyperbaric medicine and wound care.

All individuals in control of content for this educational activity with their relevant financial relationship disclosed are listed below. ACCME defines a relevant financial relationship “as financial relationships in any amount occurring within the past 12 months that create a conflict of interest.” An individual who refuses to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from being a planning committee member, a teacher, or an author of CME, and cannot have control of, or responsibility for, the development, management, presentation or evaluation of the CME activity.

Disclosure: All faculty members and planners participating in continuing medical education activities sponsored by UHMS are expected to disclose to the participants any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. Full disclosure of faculty and planner relevant financial relationships will be made at the activity.