Large lungs in divers: a risk for pulmonary barotrauma?

Abstract

This retrospective study analysed a series of investigations on lung function in military divers and the importance of computed tomography (CT) scans concerning fitness to dive. We examined the incidence of blebs and bullae in a population of military divers with large lungs prompted by six cases of pulmonary barotrauma. All of these divers' medicals were normal apart from having large lungs (FVC > 120% predicted). A subsequent survey of the database of all divers and submariners of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) found another 72 divers/submariners with large lungs who were then evaluated by a CT scan. This resulted in the identification of three further individuals with blebs and/or bullae, who were then declared unfit to dive. In total, the incidence of these lung abnormalities in this cohort was 11.5%. We discuss the possible consequences for fitness to dive with regard to the current literature on the subject, and also consider the most recent standards of reference values for pulmonary function indices. Based on our results and additional insights from other studies, we advise using the Global Lung Initiative reference values for pulmonary function, while performing high resolution CT scans only in divers with clinical indications.