Scuba diving, patent foramen ovale and heart rhythm disturbances: The role of underwater Holter monitoring-Case report

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is thought to be a risk factor for decompression illness (DCI). Catheter-based closure procedure reduces the risk of DCI in selected scuba divers with PFO. Major complication of invasive approach are rare, minor, especially heart rhythm disturbances are reported relatively often. We describe a case of 41-year-old diver, who underwent PFO closure due to recurrent DCI events. Afterward, he experienced no DCI symptoms; however, he complained about feeling of the heart beating during a submersion. Arrhythmia should be considered as a life-threatening for scuba diver, thus we performed underwater ECG monitoring and exclude the arrhythmia.