PFO closure

[cavekrazi]

I'd like to find out how cave divers do after having this procedure done. Anybody out there know somebody that had the procedure or heard anything that could shed light on the upside and downside of this procedure for reducing bends susceptibility.

[Sh0use]

Doug Ebersole would be a good guy to talk to.

[MichelleC]

Doug is definitely the guy to talk to. He is not only an expert interventional cardiologist, he's also a tech diver/instructor, so he "gets it."

Three months after my procedure I hopped back in the water doing the same dives that got me bent, with no ill effects. My experience does not a statistically-significant result make, but it has made a world of difference for me.

[FW]

Dr Ebersole is "debersole" on this forum.

[kensuf]

I wrote an article about my experience and posted it on my diving articles page.

http://www.divegainesville.org/mendi...-did-about-it/

BTW - other divers I know who have had the closure and had great success include a well known GUE Instructor Trainer/Evaluator and a well known CCR Instructor Trainer. I'd be happy to ask them if I can share their contact info.

[vinegarbiscuit]

John Hanzl gave a comprehensive and frank talk about an DCI hit he sustained last year in cave country, which was ultimately caused by the existence of a PFO (http://johnhanzl.com/2015/10/29/my-p...hint-it-sucks/). He had surgery to correct the issue. I'm sure he would be open to talking to you about it.

[bigdave]

but it has made a world of difference for me.

Out of curiosity, how has it made a world of difference?

25% of the general population have PFOs, and generally do not suffer ill effects (to include DCS) from the existence of their PFO.

David

[MichelleC]

Out of curiosity, how has it made a world of difference?

Real-world incidence of DCS is 4 / 10,000 dives.
Before the closure, I experienced skin bends 3 out of the last 8 dives, each time more severe than the previous. And likely pre-clinical DCS many more dives before that.
After the closure, no DCS symptoms (16 post-closure dives.) Having the PFO closed has allowed me to return to diving safely. That to me is a world of difference. Diving >> No Diving.

25% of the general population have PFOs, and generally do not suffer ill effects (to include DCS) from the existence of their PFO.

David

True...if anything your number is conservative. But for those who have a PFO or ASD and do experience symptoms, they are not going to get better on their own. I've met quite a few cave divers that are in denial of their symptoms. When I first experienced skin bends I was told "Welcome to the Club!"..."get used to it" by fellow cave divers, and basically "stop diving" by DAN. Neither was not an option I was willing to accept.

[Squirrel Girl]

I have a question for you guys with the PFOs. I had an echocardiogram and it didn't show a PFO. However, I learned there are different types of tests, and the one I had was the simplest, and it might miss a smaller PFO. Do you guys have big honking PFOs, or are they tiny?

[lord1234]

I'd be curious, were you able to make insurance pay for it? If not, what was the cost?