RT Book, Section
A1 Nemer, Jacqueline A.
A1 Juarez, Marianne A.
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1166176075
T1 Safety of Air Travel & Selection of Patients for Air Travel
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2020
YR 2020
FD 2020
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260455281
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1166176075
RD 2022/05/20
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,  frequency  and  use  of  inflight  exercise,  cabin  altitude  pressure,  availability  of  medical  supplies,  (including  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,  gas  expansion),  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),  thromboembolic  disorders,  cardiovascular  diseases,  neurologic  conditions  (epilepsy,  stroke),  recent  surgery  or  trauma,  diabetes  mellitus,  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.