Buzzacott P, Denoble P J
a Divers Alert Network , Durham , NC , USA.
b School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health , The University of Western Australia , Crawley , Australia.
Brain Inj. 2017;31(3):366-369. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2016.1255781. Epub 2017 Jan 27.
The first diver certification programme for recreational 'enriched air nitrox' (EAN) diving was released in 1985. Concerns were expressed that many EAN divers might suffer central nervous system (CNS) oxygen toxicity seizures and drown.
US fatalities on open-circuit scuba occurring between 2004-2013, where the breathing gas was either air or EAN, were identified. Causes of death and preceding circumstances were examined by a medical examiner experienced in diving autopsies. Case notes were searched for witnessed seizures at elevated partial pressures of oxygen.
The dataset comprised 344 air divers (86%) and 55 divers breathing EAN (14%). EAN divers' fatal dives were deeper than air divers' (28 msw vs 18 msw, p < 0.0001). Despite this, of the 249 cases where a cause of death was established, only three EAN divers were considered to have possibly died following CNS oxygen toxicity seizures at depth (ppO2 132, 142 and 193 kPa).
The analysis of recreational diving fatalities in the US over 10 years found just one death likely from CNS oxygen toxicity among EAN divers. A further two possible, although unlikely, cases were also found. Fears of commonplace CNS oxygen toxicity seizures while EAN diving have not apparently been realized.
1985年发布了首个休闲“富氧空气氮氧混合气”（EAN）潜水的潜水员认证计划。有人担心许多EAN潜水员可能会遭受中枢神经系统（CNS）氧中毒惊厥并溺水。
确定2004年至2013年间美国发生的使用开路水肺潜水且呼吸气体为空气或EAN的死亡事故。由一位有潜水尸检经验的法医检查死亡原因和先前情况。在病例记录中查找在氧分压升高时出现惊厥的记录。
数据集包括344名空气潜水员（86%）和55名呼吸EAN的潜水员（14%）。EAN潜水员的致命潜水深度比空气潜水员更深（28米海水深度对18米海水深度，p<0.0001）。尽管如此，在确定了死亡原因的249例病例中，只有三名EAN潜水员被认为可能是在深度处发生中枢神经系统氧中毒惊厥后死亡（氧分压分别为132、142和193千帕）。
对美国10年间休闲潜水死亡事故的分析发现，EAN潜水员中只有一例死亡可能是由中枢神经系统氧中毒导致。另外还发现了两例可能但不太可能的病例。对EAN潜水时常见的中枢神经系统氧中毒惊厥的担忧显然并未成为现实。
