Increasing prevalence of vestibulo-cochlear decompression illness in Malta – an analysis of hyperbaric treatment data from 1987–2017

INTRODUCTIONScuba diving is a big part of the tourism sector in Malta, and all the cases of decompression illness (DCI)are treated within the single hyperbaric referral centre in the country. METHODSThis retrospective analysis reviews all the medical records of divers with DCI in Malta within the 30-year period between 1987 to 2017 who required recompression therapy with hyperbaric oxygen. RESULTSThere were 437 discrete cases of DCI managed with recompression therapy. Amongst DCI subtypes, the prevalence of musculo-skeletal DCI is decreasing, whereas that of vestibulo-cochlear DCI is increasing. CONCLUSIONThe increasing prevalence of vestibulo-cochlear DCI may be due to a change in diving practices in Malta.