Serious decompression sickness (DCS Type II) may manifest itself as abnormalities in cranial nerve function. This involvement is a subset of neurologic DCS.
Pathophysiology: microbubbles in the blood supply to the end organ, nerves or cortical areas
Optic nerve (Cranial Nerve II) and visual pathway involvement:
(1) scotomatas
(2) diplopia
(3) blurred vision
(4) tunnel vision
Vestibulocochlear (Cranial Nerve VIII) involvement ("the staggers"):
(1) tinnitus
(2) vertigo
(3) nausea and/or vomiting
(4) nystagmus
Differential diagnosis of CN VIII involvement:
(1) cerebellar DCS
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