Jim

All,

Leave the diagnosis and risk / reward argument to the professionals and divers concerned.

The PFO test carries no risk at all - a simple canular in the arm - and watch the ultrasound to see if your own blood / saline solution passes through an opening that shouldn't be there.

The repair is a heart op via a small inscision in the groin - like all ops you go under for, it carries a small risk.

Having seen the amount of blood (theoretically nitrogenated) passing the wrong way through the heart back into the body, spine, brain etc rather than the lungs - during a simple sniff, valsalvo or slight strain (all of which you do plenty of during and post dive) - I was left with no question as to whether closure was a bloody good idea or not !! As a tech diver there was no option and anybody who wants to carry on at this level is in the same boat - to continue tech dives with a PFO is a lottery with the odds stacked against you (Granted some holes may be too small to worry about - mine was between 1.1 and 1.3cm).

My extremly experienced cardiothoracic physican (of which most on this forum are not) gave me the options of giving up tech diving, diving to no deeper than 20m for 15 mins on nitrox or getting the hole fixed. I took the latter.

What others like to denyor are simply unaware is the possible non dive related complications such as possible stroke due to a clot passing through said hole, migraines with visual disturbance are also commonly associated with PFO, and the heart is not as effective (not quantifiable) during exercise (CO2 rich blood going back round the body rather than to the lungs). Several of the people I have spoken with also had contadictary advice from the 'Chamber Man' - with respect they are in no position to diagnose or advise on PFO - you take their advice on this subject at your peril.

Don't take my opinion, I am no Doctor - but if in doubt get the test done and make up your own mind after proper advice.

Cheers.

__________________
Jim Spence