PaulTG2

Hello,

DCI is most definitely NOT random, it simply appears random because it is impossible to directly measure all the elements that went into a specific hit. Believing it is random suggests that we can't control the risks of getting a hit.

Here is one set of research notes on PFOs that certainly suggests that PFOs should be giving consideration for someone who has been hit -- and those wanting to understand risks for themselves.

From DAN's "Deeper into Diving":

"There is increasing evidence that this (PFO) is a significant issue. In a study at Duke University, the hearts of 30 divers who suffered from DCI were examined by two-dimensional electrocardiography. Eleven of these divers were found to have a patent Foramen Ovale. These 11 divers were amoung the 18 divers who had the more serious, neurological symptoms of decompression illness. A British study detected shunts in 15 of 63 (24%) of control divers with no history of DCI, 41% of 61 divers who had suffered DCI, and 66% of 19 patients who had suffered early onset neurological DCI. More recently, the same research group demonstrated a medium to large PFO in 52% of 100 divers with neurological DCI compared to 12.2% of divers controls who had not suffered DCI. These data strongly suggests that patent foramen ovale, especially a large PFO, may impose a greater risk of serious neurological DCI."