Specialist needed to operate Decompression Chamber at CWMH

With many diving activities taking place around the country, there is an urgent need for a specialist to operate the Decompression Chamber at CWM Hospital and also look at having similar facilities in other parts of the country.

Questions have been raised on what the Health Ministry is doing about setting up Decompression Chambers in the country as there can be many cases of bends that can also result in death.

The Health Ministry has already received a recommendation to get a specialist to operate the Decompression Chamber at CWM Hospital.

That is the only Decompression Chamber in the country.

Ministry spokesperson Sunil Chandra said they do not have a specialist in this field and the Ministry is now working on this.

Chandra said a group of doctors is currently assisting the hospital in operating the chamber however a specialist is needed.

A diver recently died from bends in Suva.

The Ministry said it is unfortunate that the patient who died recently was brought in quite late therefore very little assistance could be provided.

Meanwhile, plans are now in the pipeline to set up Decompression Chambers in the divisional hospitals in Labasa and Lautoka due to many diving activities around the country.

No timeframe has been set for this as yet.

The bends, also known as decompression sickness, occurs in divers when dissolved gases, mainly nitrogen, come out of solution in bubbles and can affect just about any body area including joints, lungs, heart, skin and brain.

It is caused by the formation of bubbles of gas that occur with changes in pressure during diving, and if not treated, can lead to death.

The process to fix it is called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which is the medical use of oxygen at a level higher than atmospheric pressure to address bends.

The equipment required consists of the pressure chamber, and a means of delivering 100% oxygen.

The operation is performed to a predetermined schedule by trained personnel who monitor the patient and may adjust the schedule as required.