Could prolonged air travel be casually associated with subclavian vein thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
Air travel associated with venous thromboembolism has recently achieved public awareness due to intense media coverage. The interest has focused on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs with pulmonary embolism. The World Health Organization (WHO) is planning several international multicenter trials to study the problem and, if it exists, try to find a means for prevention.


METHODS
This is a case presentation of acute venous thromboembolism of the upper limbs associated with long-haul flights. Five patients were admitted to Straub Hospital in Honolulu after 5 to 10 hours flight.


RESULTS
Patient 1 had a previous shoulder injury with DVT; patient 2 had chronic atrial fibrillation; patients 3 and 5 had clavicular fractures; and patient 4 had a subclavian vein compression.


CONCLUSIONS
It is not possible to draw any conclusions about the association between air flights and subclavian vein thrombosis from this small retrospective case study. Our objective was to indicate the possibility of such a relationship.
Teruya Theodore
Vascular Center, Straub Clinic and Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA.
Arfvidsson Berndt
Eklof Bo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000401:Aircraft; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013350:Subclavian Vein; D014195:Travel; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*