I would appreciate to hear whether any of you have had vestibular schwannoma (VS) patients experiencing serious vertigo during diving or whether you have some theoretical observations on whether or not these patients should be allowed to dive.
Have any of you seen cases of pneumocephalus in patients diving after temporal bone surgery?
Personally I have no experience with VS patients who dive thus the following is only my insights based on the pathophysiology of this SOL.
VS located in the IAC or CPA is slow growing and is almost never associated with acute vertigo. One exception is the uncommon intralabyrinthine schwannoma which might cause meniere like attacks. I believe diving limitations in VS should be considered according to the status of hearing and vestibular function. Mostly well compensated unilateral vestibulopathy, which is usually the case in VS, would not present particular hazard to the diver. If the subject has complete deafness due to the VS this would be a case of "only hearing ear" and I would not recommend diving.
I hope this help.
Avi Shupak
Dear Frederik Kragerud Goplen,
As a rule a person should not dive in several cases: 1. There is high probability of loss of consciousness. 2. There are air bubbles (accumulations) in the body. 3. Symptoms are present which are similar to those in DCI and other diving-connected illness or injury. 4. There is a disability precluding a man to perform the essential functions under water, so that he is unsafe burden for his colleagues.
So, check the present state of VS-patient by above mentioned criteria and weigh the risks.
Good Luck!
I agree with Professor Konstantin Logunov , reserve diving for emergent situations , as no one can predict the danger which may cost the patient his life
While the chance of a sudden onset of vertigo is rare, diving presents all sorts of challenges to the auditory system. Diving in this case is an unnecessary risk, particularly recreational diving. In most cases in the U.S., one couldn't be certified to dive.
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