Aortic valve replacement in a United States Air Force pilot: case report and literature review.
We report the first case of a United States Air Force pilot returned to flying status after cardiac valve replacement. A 34-yr-old C-130 pilot underwent placement of an aortic valve homograft as a result of an episode of acute bacterial endocarditis on a bicuspid aortic valve. After a period of observation and a careful evaluation, he was returned to flying status in low-G aircraft. While cardiac valve replacement has traditionally been considered disqualifying for military aviation duties, aortic valve homografts have been associated with a lower morbidity and a significantly improved prognosis when compared to the other types of prosthetic heart valves. With careful evaluation and close follow-up, military aviators with aortic valve homografts can be considered for return to flying duties in low-G aircraft.
Hardy
J C
JC
Clinical Sciences Division, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5117, USA.
Leonard
F
F
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000637:transplantation*; D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D011379:Prognosis; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous