Joint position statement on atrial shunts (persistent [patent] foramen ovale and atrial septal defects) and diving: 2025 update. South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society (SPUMS) and the United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC).

ABSTRACT: This consensus statement is the product of a workshop at the South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2024 with representation of the United Kingdom Diving Medical Committee (UKDMC) present, and subsequent discussions included the entire UKDMC. A large right-to-left shunt across a persistent (patent) foramen ovale (PFO), an atrial septal defect (ASD) or a pulmonary shunt is a risk factor for some types of decompression sickness (DCS). It is agreed that routine screening for a right-to-left shunt is not currently justifiable, but certain high risk sub-groups can be identified. Individuals with a history of cerebral, spinal, vestibulocochlear, cardiovascular or cutaneous DCS, migraine with aura or cryptogenic stroke; a family history of PFO or ASD and individuals w

SUBMITTER: Smart D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12043516 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature