title: Flight physiology. Clinical considerations.
abstract: Altitude-related complications and the stresses of flight represent the components of flight physiology. Understanding the complexities associated with patient management relative to barometric pressure changes and hypoxia is of paramount concern to air medical personnel. This article reviews flight physiology as well as appropriate precautions and interventions that must be practiced to provide optimal patient care at various altitudes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals, Illinois.
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Blumen
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Abernethy
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dunne
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000531:Altitude; D001469:Barotrauma / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006361:Heating / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009622:Noise; D055585:Physical Phenomena; D010825:Physics; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D014732:Vibration