I had Spontaneous Pneumothorax left and right lungs 15 years ago, can i scuba dive like 15 feet?

[Kharon]

Spontaneous Pneumothorax is an absolute contraindication for SCUBA diving.

Not true. I had 3 events in 1967. After the third the doc scarred the pleurum with talc. Since then I've had no more events and have been medically cleared for diving. Treatment and time without recurrence isn't a perfect indicator but I'm more than willing to take the minimal risk for the huge reward. The OP has had 15 years event free.

Now, let's look at the OP's question somewhat scientifically. A spontaneous pneumothorax can be an almost instantenous event (worst case) so let's go with that. If both lungs pop at the same time you're dead meat unless you are on the table in an emergency room at the time. So let's say only one goes. At 15 feet that's +½ ATM. So on ascent the air in the chest cavity would expand to 150% on one side and be distributed through the cavity semi-equally - about 125%, more or less. Painful? Almost certainly. Dangerous? Almost probably. Survivable? I would guess, Almost surely.

I think the OP should consult with a good lung guy (doesn't need to be a diving doctor) that can give an accurate probability of recurrance. Diving has nothing to do with it unless you are ascending while holding your breath. That would put you at (probably) higher risk than average. There is no increased pressure on the lungs at any depth unless you ascend while holding your breath.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

Not true. I had 3 events in 1967. After the third the doc scarred the pleurum with talc. Since then I've had no more events and have been medically cleared for diving. Treatment and time without recurrence isn't a perfect indicator but I'm more than willing to take the minimal risk for the huge reward. The OP has had 15 years event free.

Now, let's look at the OP's question somewhat scientifically. A spontaneous pneumothorax can be an almost instantenous event (worst case) so let's go with that. If both lungs pop at the same time you're dead meat unless you are on the table in an emergency room at the time. So let's say only one goes. At 15 feet that's +½ ATM. So on ascent the air in the chest cavity would expand to 150% on one side and be distributed through the cavity semi-equally - about 125%, more or less. Painful? Almost certainly. Dangerous? Almost probably. Survivable? I would guess, Almost surely.

I think the OP should consult with a good lung guy (doesn't need to be a diving doctor) that can give an accurate probability of recurrance. Diving has nothing to do with it unless you are ascending while holding your breath. That would put you at (probably) higher risk than average. There is no increased pressure on the lungs at any depth unless you ascend while holding your breath.

It's a little more complex than that. First, pneumothoraces are not always 100% (i.e. the lungs don't always collapse completely) so it's not a given that a patient who experiences bilateral spontaneous pneumos will die unless he/she is in the ED at the time, although the risk of death or serious complications is considerably higher.

You gave a pretty good explanation of a tension pneumothorax in the first paragraph, and those are definitely not almost surely survivable. Expanding air in the chest cavity can tamponade the heart and reduce cardiac output to the point of death. This is the crux of the discussion on spontaneous pneumo and diving. While diving *may* not increase the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax (although in tall people like the OP they often occur during exercise or other periods where the lungs are being fully expanded), a spontaneous pneumo at pressure will turn into a potentially fatal tension pneumo on ascent. It's a low probability/high consequence event.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Stoo]

Yes, it's absolute 15 feet but i don't have plans to go that deep..

Pretty much anything you can do on SCUBA in less than 15', you can do snorkelling.

Both of my sons (one of whom was mid-way through his SCUBA home-schooling) suffered the same fate as you. And yes, both were lean and lanky at the time. My Dad had the same problem when he was young. Same build. I got my height from my Mom, who was pretty much a Hobbit.

A pneumothorax is serious. It's especially serious underwater and sure, it's only 15', but in that 15', there is a significant pressure gradient.

I guess the question becomes, is what you're doing there worth dying over? Likely not.

When my eldest son and I met with his Doctor (who was a vacation diver) he was pretty adamant that diving was a bad idea. That was under the assumption that my son would not have another pneumothorax.

Both of my boys have had repeated occurrences. One had some surgery to correct the situation. It helped, but he still has minor pops. In one case, in my younger boy, it was bilateral and significant. There was increased pressure on his heart. Thankfully, his Better Half insisted he head to the ER right away. Chest tubes and 3 days later he was released.

Personally, I think it's a terrible idea for you to dive.

Just a final edit: I didn't ignore the fact that OP is incident-free and that seems significant. I go back to my earlier question. Is what he needs to do in 15' worth dying over. If so, perhaps it's worth doing.

 

[Steve_C]

snorkeling on the surface is fine and honestly you can see almost as much from there at many sites.

As one who snorkeled for years before diving I disagree a bit in that you can see as much. I can see much more on scuba at 15 ft. However, having said that if I was the OP I would just snorkel.

 

[marvinsss2005]

Marvin, I'd recommend that you see a physician who specializes in diving medicine. Where are you located?

Best regards,
DDM

Philippines, Cebu...

 

[marvinsss2005]

Marvin, I'd recommend that you see a physician who specializes in diving medicine. Where are you located?

Best regards,
DDM

I will update my status after the dive.

 

[Duke Dive Medicine]

I'm looking for a diving medicine physician in the PI for you.

Best regards,
DDM

 

[Damselfish]

it's only 15', but in that 15', there is a significant pressure gradient.

To be clear to the OP - people often assume shallower is safer, your saying “only 15” it sounds like you do also. That may be true with respect to some things, but not with respect to pressure changes which are actually faster at that depth.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

It's a little more complex than that. First, pneumothoraces are not always 100% (i.e. the lungs don't always collapse completely) so it's not a given that a patient who experiences bilateral spontaneous pneumos will die unless he/she is in the ED at the time, although the risk of death or serious complications is considerably higher.

You gave a pretty good explanation of a tension pneumothorax in the first paragraph, and those are definitely not almost surely survivable. Expanding air in the chest cavity can tamponade the heart and reduce cardiac output to the point of death. This is the crux of the discussion on spontaneous pneumo and diving. While diving *may* not increase the risk of spontaneous pneumothorax (although in tall people like the OP they often occur during exercise or other periods where the lungs are being fully expanded), a spontaneous pneumo at pressure will turn into a potentially fatal tension pneumo on ascent. It's a low probability/high consequence event.

Best regards,
DDM

This explanation raised a question for me: Should a person at high risk of SP breath-hold dive while snorkeling? When I go snorkeling I would spend a lot of time at 10-20' while holding my breath. If (and granted this is a remote chance) an event hit at depth, the air would expand as I went up but to no more than my original lung volume. Still, it's an air space that doesn't ordinarily hold air and might put pressure in the wrong place. How dead would I be?

(As far as I know I'm at zero risk for SP, so I'm not personally concerned. Just an academic interest.)

 

[marvinsss2005]

I'm done with the diving and when i'm drop to the water there was a pain in my right i don't know the cause maybe it's because of the drop and for me being too scared. I was not able to go 10 feet maybe 5 feet because higher than 5 feet my ears start to hurt and this is my first time so i'm not good at equalizing yet.