title: Air travel following traumatic pneumothorax: when is it safe?
abstract: The safety of air travel for patients sustaining a recent traumatic pneumothorax has long been a subject of debate. The Aerospace Medicine Association has suggested that patients should be able to fly 2 to 3 weeks after radiographic resolution of their pneumothorax. To validate these recommendations, a prospective study was performed. Twelve consecutive patients with recent traumatic pneumothorax expressing a desire to travel by commercial airline were evaluated. Ten patients waited at least 14 days after radiographic resolution of their pneumothorax before air travel (mean, 17.5+/-4.9 days), and all were asymptomatic in-flight. One of two patients who flew earlier than 14 days developed respiratory distress in-flight, with symptoms suggestive of a recurrent pneumothorax. We conclude that commercial air travel appears to be safe 14 days following radiographic resolution of a traumatic pneumothorax.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Education, Orlando Regional Healthcare System, Florida 32806, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cheatham
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Safcsak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012119:Respiration; D012449:Safety; D013546:Sweating; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014195:Travel; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology