Respiratory fitness for occupational diving, what is new?

Abstract

Diving diseases originating from lung-related pathology are not the most prominent but are considered the most severe. To minimize this risk, a good respiratory tract assessment is important. Organizations like the British Thoracic Society (2003) and the European Diving Technology Committee (EDTC) (2004) have provided guidelines regarding this assessment. However, most of the guidelines are 20 years old. The EDTC has revised its guidelines based on the present literature and published it last year. This review discusses a few topics that have changed or are newly introduced in the new EDTC guidelines. Importantly, additional tests might be necessary when assessing the respiratory tract based on history taking and spirometry, leading to a case-by-case decision regarding the fitness to dive. Particular attention should be paid to individuals with large lungs or cysts, those who have undergone thoracic surgery, and those with a history of asthma, immersion pulmonary edema, COVID-19 infection, or sleep apnea.