Contraindications to Flying
Condition | Risk |
|---|---|
Gas expansion* causing pain, tissue damage, or both | |
Chest or abdominal surgery if recent (< 10 days) | Gas expansion* causing pain, tissue damage, or both |
Heart disease if severe | Oxygen desaturation*, † |
Immunodeficiency if severe | Acquisition or transmission of infection |
Infections if highly contagious | Acquisition or transmission of infection |
Intraocular gas injection if recent | Gas expansion* causing pain, tissue damage, or both |
Jaw immobilization (unless the appliance is fitted with a quick-release device) | Aspiration (eg, if vomiting due to air sickness occurs) |
Myocardial infarction, low-risk‡:
| Oxygen desaturation*, † |
Myocardial infarction, medium-risk‡:
| Oxygen desaturation*, † |
Myocardial infarction, high-risk‡:
| Oxygen desaturation*, † |
Oxygen desaturation*, † | |
Gas expansion* causing pain, tissue damage, or both | |
Pulmonary blebs or cavities if large | Gas expansion* causing pain, tissue damage, or both |
Pulmonary dysfunction if severe | Oxygen desaturation*, † |
* Risk mainly at high cabin altitude. Low-altitude flights (< 5000 ft [1524 m]; eg, MedEvac helicopters) are less likely to cause problems. | |
† If flying is essential, supplemental oxygen should be available. | |
‡ Patients who have had a myocardial infarction (MI) and are low-risk should defer air travel for 3 days after the MI; medium-risk patients should defer for 10 days; high-risk patients should defer until stable. | |