21-30 Change A
U.S. Navy Diving Manual—Volume 5
ments increases, the probability of benefit from additional treatments decreases.
However, improvement has been noted in patients who have had delay times of up
to 1 week. Therefore, a long delay is not necessarily a reason to preclude follow-
up treatments. Once residual symptoms respond to additional recompression treat-
ments, such treatments should be continued until no further benefit is noted. In
general, treatment may be discontinued if there is no further sustained improve-
ment on two consecutive treatments.
21-6.6
Returning to Diving after Treatment Table 5. Divers who meet all of the criteria
for treatment using Treatment Table 5, as outlined in paragraph 21-5.4.1 and who
have had complete relief, may return to normal diving activity 7 days after
surfacing from the Treatment Table 5. If there is any doubt about the presence or
absence of Type II symptoms, the diver should be examined by a Diving Medical
Officer before resumption of diving.
21-6.6.1
Returning to Diving After Treatment Table 6. Divers who had symptoms of arte-
rial gas embolism, Type II DCS, or Type I DCS requiring a Treatment Table 6
should not dive for at least 4 weeks and should resume diving only upon the
recommendation of a Diving Medical Officer.
21-6.6.2
Returning to Diving After Treatment Table 4 or 7. A diver having cardiorespira-
tory and/or CNS symptoms severe enough to warrant Treatment Table 4 or 7
should not dive for a minimum of 3 months, and not until a thorough review of his
case by a Diving Medical Officer has established that return to normal diving
activity can be accomplished safely.
21-7
NON-STANDARD TREATMENTS
The treatment recommendations presented in this chapter should be followed as
closely as possible unless it becomes evident that they are not working. Only a
Diving Medical Officer may then recommend changes to treatment protocols or
use treatment techniques other than those described in this chapter. Any modifica-
tions to treatment tables shall be approved by the Commanding Officer. The
standard treatment procedures in this chapter should be considered minimum
treatments. Treatment procedures should never be shortened unless emergency
situations arise that require chamber occupants to leave the chamber early, or the
patient’s medical condition precludes the use of standard U.S. Navy treatment
tables.
21-8
RECOMPRESSION TREATMENT ABORT PROCEDURES
Once recompression therapy is started, it should be completed according to the
procedures in this chapter unless the diver being treated dies or unless continuing
the treatment would place the chamber occupants in mortal danger.
21-8.1
Death During Treatment. If it appears that the diver being treated has died, a qual-
ified medical personnel shall be consulted before the treatment is aborted. If this is
done, then the tenders may be decompressed by completing the treatment table, by
following the air decompression schedule (as modified below), or contact NEDU
