Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Hyperbaric and Environmental Physiology, Duke University, Durham (NC), USA.
Corresponding author: Dr Derek Covington, Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Hyperbaric and Environmental Physiology, Duke University, DUMC 3094, Durham, NC 27710, USA,
Diving Hyperb Med. 2022 Jun 30;52(2):103-107. doi: 10.28920/dhm52.2.103-107.
Drysuits use flexible neck and wrist seals to maintain water-tight seals. However, if the seals exert too much pressure adverse physiological effects are possible, including dizziness, lightheadedness, syncope, and paresthesias in the hands. We aimed to quantify the seal pressures of neck and wrist seals in non-immersed divers.
We recruited 33 diving volunteers at two dive facilities in High Springs, Florida. After a history and physical exam, we measured vital signs as well as wrist and neck seal pressures using a manometer system.
The mean (SD) seal pressure of the right wrist seals was found to be 38.8 (14.9) mmHg, while that of the left wrist seals was 37.6 (14.9) mmHg. The average neck seal pressure was 23.7 (9.4) mmHg. Subgroup analysis of seal material demonstrated higher mean sealing pressure with latex seals compared to silicone; however, this difference was not statistically significant.
Drysuit seal pressures are high enough to have vascular implications and even potentially cause peripheral nerve injury at the wrist. Divers should trim their seals appropriately and be vigilant regarding symptoms of excessive seal pressures. Further research may elucidate if seal material influences magnitude of seal pressure.
干式潜水服采用灵活的颈部和手腕密封件来保持水密密封。然而，如果密封件施加的压力过大，可能会产生不利的生理影响，包括头晕、头晕、晕厥和手部感觉异常。我们旨在量化非浸水潜水员颈部和手腕密封件的密封压力。
我们在佛罗里达州海斯普林斯的两个潜水设施招募了 33 名潜水志愿者。在进行病史和体格检查后，我们使用压力计系统测量了生命体征以及手腕和颈部密封件的压力。
发现右侧手腕密封件的平均（SD）密封压力为 38.8（14.9）mmHg，而左侧手腕密封件的密封压力为 37.6（14.9）mmHg。平均颈部密封压力为 23.7（9.4）mmHg。密封材料的亚组分析表明，乳胶密封件的平均密封压力高于硅酮密封件；然而，这种差异没有统计学意义。
干式潜水服的密封压力足以对血管产生影响，甚至可能导致手腕处的周围神经损伤。潜水员应适当修剪密封件，并警惕密封压力过大的症状。进一步的研究可能会阐明密封材料是否会影响密封压力的大小。
