AGE vs. DCS

Common symptoms:

Arterial gas embolism, or “AGE”, can mimic DCS, and distinguishing between the two injuries may be impossible in some cases. In rare cases, both AGE and DCS can develop simultaneously. The two syndromes are often described and treated together using the more global term decompression illness (DCI).

How to tell the difference:

AGE symptoms occur within minutes after surfacing and can occur regardless of the depth or duration of the dive. Almost two-thirds of individuals with AGE have a reduced level of consciousness. Seizures, focal motor weakness, visual loss, vertigo and sensory changes are also frequently noted in AGE victims. DCS symptoms generally occur after deep or long dives, and symptoms may take up to 24 hours to present; however, in most DCS cases, symptoms were noticed within 12 hours of the diver surfacing.

Special cases:

AGE may be associated with subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin of the upper chest and/ or neck) or pneumothorax (collapsed lung), but pulmonary symptoms are not always present.