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Wang Y, Guo A, Pu Q, Cai W, Qing L. Cerebral Dysfunction of a Diving Fisherman After Prophylactic

Recompression Treatment: A Case Report. Undersea Hyperb Med. 2026 Second Quarter; 53(2):319-

324.

Introduction: Prophylactic recompression treatment (PRT) is an empirical treatment conducted in China

for divers who conduct repetitive diving or asymptomatic insufficient decompression to eliminate

residual nitrogen and microbubbles and prevent decompression sickness (DCS).

Case Report: We report a case of a 43-year-old healthy diving fisherman who experienced cerebral

dysfunction after PRT. The fisherman suddenly experienced dizziness accompanied by vomiting, vertigo,

nausea, confusion, and aphasia six hours after a 500kPa-PRT. Laboratory tests revealed a significantly

elevated serum creatine kinase. No abnormalities were found by cranial computed tomography (CT),

but the chest CT observed emphysema and pulmonary bullae. After undergoing another recompression

treatment, the fisherman fully recovered without sequelae. Hence, it was deduced that the diver might

have a cerebral arterial gas embolism (AGE).

Discussion: The case suggests that although PRT for healthy diving fishermen is theoretically safe, there

remains a rare possibility of decompression illness, including cerebral AGE or cerebral DCS. It is not crucial

to differentiate these two conditions, as both require timely recompression treatment and, in most cases,

can have a good prognosis.

Keywords: arterial gas embolism; decompression illness; decompression sickness; prophylactic

recompression treatment; pulmonary barotrauma