Diagnosis and treatment of diving accidents. New German guidelines for diving accidents 2014-2017

• Published in: Der Anaesthesist 2015-06, Vol.64 (6), p.463-468
• Main Authors: Jüttner, B, Wölfel, C, Liedtke, H, Meyne, K, Werr, H, Bräuer, T, Kemmerer, M, Schmeißer, G, Piepho, T, Müller, O, Schöppenthau, H
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Accidents; Consensus; Decompression Sickness - therapy; Diving - adverse effects; Diving - injuries; Emergency Medical Services; Fluid Therapy; Germany; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation; Patient Positioning
• ISSN: 1432-055X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00101-015-0033-7

In 2015 the German Society for Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine (GTÜM) and the Swiss Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Society (SUHMS) published the updated guidelines on diving accidents 2014-2017. These multidisciplinary guidelines were developed within a structured consensus process by members of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), the Sports Divers Association (VDST), the Naval Medical Institute (SchiffMedInst), the Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Building Trade (BG BAU), the Association of Hyperbaric Treatment Centers (VDD) and the Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (DGAUM). This consensus-based guidelines project (development grade S2k) with a representative group of developers was conducted by the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany. It provides information and instructions according to up to date evidence to all divers and other lay persons for first aid recommendations to physician first responders and emergency physicians as well as paramedics and all physicians at therapeutic hyperbaric chambers for the diagnostics and treatment of diving accidents. To assist in implementing the guideline recommendations, this article summarizes the rationale, purpose and the following key action statements: on-site 100% oxygen first aid treatment, still patient positioning and fluid administration are recommended. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) recompression remains unchanged the established treatment in severe cases with no therapeutic alternatives. The basic treatment scheme recommended for diving accidents is hyperbaric oxygenation at 280 kPa. For quality management purposes there is a need in the future for a nationwide register of hyperbaric therapy.