Posted by Richard Golding on April 21, 2004 at 08:15:48:
In Reply to: PFO Testing posted by tleemay on March 04, 2004 at 22:06:48:
Although I had dived for over 11 years on air, I suffered 2 skin bends following long duration deep trimix dives. As I had done nothing provocative (dehydration, over exertion, etc) I suspected that a PFO could be the cause and had the standard diagnostic test (bubble contrast echocardiogram) and found that I had an 8mm dia hole. The test took less than half an hour and involved aeriated saline being injected into the bloodstream and tracked across the heart via ultrasound scan.
I had the closure op in Dec 2001 using an Amplatzer occluder device and have returned to CCR trimix diving with no reoccurences of the problem. I personally know of 3 other divers who have also had the test and subsequent operation.