A close buddy of mine, who is sick of hearing all my cool fish stories, wants to get certified. However, he's had one of his lungs collapse twice in the last five years, most recently in November 1999. There is a recurrence rate of 33 to 50 percent. The air space around a collapsed lung occurring under water will increase in size on ascent, causing a serious emergency condition. There is a recurrence rate of 8 percent following pleurodesis.
Recurrence is rare following pleurectomy.
Even if recurrence of collapsed lung does not occur, the underlying cystic lung disease of the other lung remains, with the inherent danger now being pulmonary barotrauma with air embolism. Diving within three months after any type of collapsed lung. Spontaneous collapsed lung in beginners. Expert divers with recurrent collapsed lung after pleurectomy. Encourage your friend to take up snorkeling so that he can enjoy the reef and seeing fish.