Bilateral massive pulmonary embolism secondary to decompression sickness: A case report

This case report describes massive pulmonary embolism in a patient as a complication of decompression illness. Twenty-four hours after a scuba dive, a 50-year-old man developed acute pulmonary hypertension and decompression sickness that produced bilateral embolism in the lung at day 6 of hospitalization. He had no risk factor for pulmonary embolism earlier except smoking. Decompression sickness that RESULTS in formation of bubbles of inert gas is a risk for both aviators and divers. The present case strongly suggests that micro-bubbles may cause life-threatening massive pulmonary embolism.