Asymptomatic atherosclerotic occlusive vascular disease--its significance in the evaluation of aircrew members.
During the past 5 years, seven active aircrew have been referred to our Vascular Surgery Unit for evaluation of previously asymptomatic lower extremity claudication or cerebrovascular symptoms identified during treadmill exercise testing for abnormal electrocardiograms noted on periodic flying physical evaluations. Noninvasive vascular evaluation included pre- and postexercise lower extremity segmental blood pressures, Doppler Ultrasonic Velocity Detector supraorbital cerebrovascular screen, carotid phonoangiography, and oculoplethysmography. Four of those evaluated showed evidence of moderately severe aorto-iliac occlusive disease. More importantly, three also showed evidence of significant extracranial occlusive cerebrovascular disease and two pilots were found to have asymptomatic total occlusions of one internal carotid artery. It is recommended that noninvasive diagnostic techniques for evaluation of the peripheral arterial system be added to complement the evaluation of those aircrew suspected of having atherosclerotic coronary arterial disease.
D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006347:Heart Sounds; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000175:diagnosis; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D014463:Ultrasonography