Background: During commercial air travel passengers are exposed to a low ambient cabin pressure, comparable to altitudes of 5000 to 8000 ft (1524 to 2438 m). In healthy passengers this causes a fall in partial pressure of oxygen, which results in relative hypoxemia, usually without symptoms. Patients with congenital heart or lung disease may experience more severe hypoxemia during air travel. This systematic review provides an overview of the current literature focusing on whether it is safe for patients with congenital heart or lung disease to fly.

Methods: The Pubmed database was searched and all studies carried out at an (simulated) altitude of 5000-8000 ft (1524-2438 m) for a short time period (several hours) and related to patients with congenital heart or lung disease were reviewed.

Results: Included were 11 studies. These studies examined patients with cystic fibrosis, neonatal (chronic) lung disease and congenital (a)cyanotic heart disease during a hypoxic challenge test, in a hypobaric chamber, during commercial air travel, or in the mountains. Peripheral/arterial saturation, blood gases, lung function, and/or the occurrence of symptoms were listed.

Discussion: Based on the current literature, it can be concluded that air travel is safe for most patients. However, those at risk of hypoxia can benefit from supplemental in-flight oxygen. Therefore, patients with congenital heart and lung disease should be evaluated carefully prior to air travel to select the patients at risk for hypoxia using the current studies and guidelines.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.4408.2016DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

lung disease
24
patients congenital
20
congenital heart
20
heart lung
20
air travel
20
patients
8
commercial air
8
current literature
8
safe patients
8
patients risk
8

Similar Publications

Insights into NEK2 inhibitors as antitumor agents: From mechanisms to potential therapeutics.

Eur J Med Chem

January 2025

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Healthand, Department of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, Core Facilities, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China. Electronic address:

NEK2, a serine/threonine protein kinase, is integral to mitotic events such as centrosome duplication and separation, microtubule stabilization, spindle assembly checkpoint, and kinetochore attachment. However, NEK2 overexpression leads to centrosome amplification and chromosomal instability, which are significantly associated with various malignancies, including liver, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer. This overexpression could facilitate tumor development and confer resistance to therapy by promoting aberrant cell division and centrosome amplification.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health communication systems has introduced a transformative approach to public health management, particularly during public health emergencies, capable of reaching billions through familiar digital channels. This paper explores the utility and implications of generalist conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) advanced AI systems trained on extensive datasets to handle a wide range of conversational tasks across various domains with human-like responsiveness. The specific focus is on the application of generalist CAI within messaging services, emphasizing its potential to enhance public health communication.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Maternal Cardiovascular Research and Education Should be Prioritized in the US.

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol

January 2025

Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, Division of Environmental Medicine, Departments of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.

Maternal mortality rates in the US have been increasing steadily over the past decade, with rates significantly increased versus the rest of the developed world, despite the vast healthcare infrastructure. The purpose of this paper is to discuss key areas that need to be addressed within basic science, clinical, and community-based settings to help promote increased education, research, and awareness of specific pregnancy-associated changes that can occur during both healthy and complicated pregnancies. Through increased awareness, we can promote healthier pregnancies and not only help to reduce maternal mortality rates but also improve the long-term cardiovascular outcomes in mothers and their children.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The clinical assessment of lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, results from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Rheumatology (Oxford)

January 2025

Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet's Disease Clinic, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Objectives: To assess the lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, an inflammatory disease assessing both children and adults. To exploit possible associated factors for parenchymal lung involvement in these patients.

Methods: A multicentre observational study was arranged assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the lung involvement among those included in the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) Network Still's Disease Registry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia in pulmonary thromboendarterectomy: retrospective cohort.

Interdiscip Cardiovasc Thorac Surg

January 2025

Department of Thoracic Surgery and Heart-Lung Transplantation, Paris-Saclay University, Marie-Lannelongue Hospital, 92350, Le Plessis-Robinson, France.

Objectives: Heparin is given for anticoagulation during and after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Our objective was to add to the limited data available on the incidence, management, and outcomes of suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: This retrospective single-centre study included consecutive patients with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia after pulmonary thromboendarterectomy done in 2005-2018.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!