TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Safety of Air Travel & Selection of Patients for Air Travel A1 - Nemer, Jacqueline A. A1 - Juarez, Marianne A. A2 - Papadakis, Maxine A. A2 - McPhee, Stephen J. A2 - Rabow, Michael W. A2 - McQuaid, Kenneth R. PY - 2022 T2 - Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2022 AB - The medical safety of air travel depends on the nature and severity of the traveler’s preflight condition and factors such as travel duration and frequency of travel, use and frequency of inflight exercise, cabin altitude pressure, availability of medical supplies, (including automated external defibrillators and supplemental oxygen), infectious diseases of other travelers, and the presence of health care professionals on board. In-flight medical emergencies are increasing because there are an increasing number of travelers with preexisting medical conditions. Air travel passengers are susceptible to a wide range of flight-related problems: pulmonary (hypoxemia, spontaneous pneumothorax), venous thromboembolism (VTE), infections, cardiac, gastrointestinal, ocular, immunologic, syncope, neuropsychiatric, metabolic, trauma, and illicit substance-related conditions. Air travel risks are higher for those air travelers with preexisting medical conditions: pregnancy, pulmonary diseases (chronic hypoxemia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diffuse cystic lung diseases), thromboembolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, neurologic conditions (epilepsy, stroke), recent surgery or trauma, diabetes mellitus, cancer, compromised immune system, infectious diseases, mental illness, and substance dependence. Occupational and frequent flyers are also at risk for accumulative radiation exposure, cabin air quality, circadian disturbance, and pressurization problems. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/18 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184175586 ER -