ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1986
Page Count: 3

Nitrogen Narcosis and Alcohol Consumption—A Scuba Diving Fatality
Patsalis, A
University of Patra Medical School, General Hospital of Patra,

Michalodimitrakis, E
University of Patra Medical School, General Hospital of Patra,

Abstract

Nitrogen narcosis can cause death among experienced scuba divers. Nitrogen under pressure affects the brain by acting as an anesthetic agent. Furthermore, the consumption of ethanol along with diving will cause the symptoms of nitrogen narcosis to occur at depths less than 30 m. Our case deals with an experienced diver who drank alcoholic beverages before diving and developed symptoms of nitrogen narcosis at a shallow depth. These two conditions contributed to his death by drowning.

Keywords:
pathology and biology, alcohol, diving, nitrogen narcosis

Paper ID: JFS12421J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12421J
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