Notifications. Is it possible for a cancer patient to fly on an airplane? Features of travel for cancer patients Travel after surgery

The pressure in the cabin can affect the passenger’s well-being due to the development of hypobaric hypoxia (insufficient oxygen saturation of the blood) with existing respiratory diseases and heart failure. In addition, changes in pressure lead to the expansion of gases in various body cavities, which also causes some discomfort.

Commercial airlines fly at an altitude of 7010-12498 m above sea level, and cabin pressure is set at an altitude of 1524-2438 m, otherwise only a few healthy people would survive such a flight. Sudden ascents, even to such a height, can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and a feeling of weakness even in healthy passengers. The fact is that at an altitude of 2438 m, the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood drops from 95 to 60 mm Hg. Art. In a healthy passenger, the saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen decreases by only 3-4%, but passengers with the listed pathologies develop more pronounced hypoxia.

Thus, 18% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experience moderate respiratory distress syndrome during such flights. These passengers may require supplemental oxygen. Unfortunately, not all airlines provide it. On all Russian airlines it is prohibited to carry oxygen, even to doctors accompanying seriously ill patients. On foreign airlines, since 2005, passengers, on doctor’s orders, can independently carry cans of oxygen concentrate.

According to the Boyle-Marriott law, gas confined in closed cavities will expand as it rises to height. This is why, by the way, bottles of shampoos and creams taken on the road leak. For healthy passengers, all this physics results only in minor abdominal pain and stuffy ears. But a person with a runny nose is already at risk of developing otitis media. With colds, the Eustachian tube, which connects the pharynx with the inner ear and equalizes the pressure in it when rising to a height, is inflamed, its lumen is narrowed, or even “glued together.” When there is a sharp change in external atmospheric pressure, it is enough for a healthy person to make a yawning, chewing or sucking movement (this is why caramels are sometimes handed out on airplanes), and the lumen of the Eustachian tube into the pharynx opens, which quickly eliminates congestion in the ear. In the case of a cold, this does not always help, and then you can resort to the Valsalva maneuver: exhale with your mouth closed and your nose pinched. For the same reasons, a cold after a flight can worsen with sinusitis. Therefore, passengers with a runny nose are advised to use vasoconstrictor drops (for example, based on oxymetazoline) before takeoff and landing. Infants can be given a bottle or pacifier - this stimulates swallowing and helps equalize pressure in the ears and sinuses.

Due to the same mechanisms, bloating and abdominal pain can occur. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink a lot of carbonated drinks before a flight.

During some surgical and diagnostic procedures, air is introduced into the body cavity (surgeries on the abdomen, chest, some eye surgeries). If you plan to fly a few days after such an operation, be sure to consult with a specialist.

Deep vein thrombosis

A truly serious danger to life is deep vein thrombosis, which can develop in a passenger who has been sitting for many hours. Contraction of the leg muscles ensures normal venous outflow from the legs. Prolonged immobility leads to stagnation of blood in the veins and can lead to thrombosis. Blood clots that form in veins are in most cases small in size and do not pose a problem. Larger blood clots can lead to swelling and tenderness in the lower legs. If a fragment of a blood clot breaks off and is carried into the lungs by the bloodstream (this is called an embolism), shortness of breath, chest pain, and in severe cases can even result in death. Thromboembolism of the pulmonary arteries does not appear immediately, but several hours or days after the flight.

Studies show that eight-hour or longer flights increase the risk of thromboembolism by approximately 4 times. In general, the risk increases even with 4-hour flights.

The risk of thromboembolism increases if the following factors are present:

Repeated flight within the last 2 weeks

Thrombosis in the past

Thromboembolism in a close relative

Use of estrogen-containing contraceptives

Pregnancy

Recent injury or surgery (especially abdominal, pelvic, or lower extremity surgery)

Presence of malignant tumors

Congenital pathology of the blood coagulation system

Drink plenty

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks (coffee, Coca-Cola, etc.)

Change your position in the chair, or even better, get up regularly and walk around the cabin

Do exercises that force your calf muscles to contract

Cosmic radiation

At high altitudes, the level of cosmic radiation increases, so in 1991 the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) began to consider cosmic radiation as an occupational risk factor for crew members. With annual total exposure to more than 20 mSv, the risk of developing breast or skin cancer may increase. As for passengers, even frequent fliers, to date, no significant effect of cosmic radiation on their health has been discovered.

Desynchronosis

In English, the term jet lag is very popular, which is translated into Russian as “desynchronosis,” known only to specialists. We are talking about disrupted daily biorhythms due to sudden changes in time zones. Many of us know that long flights can cause weakness, drowsiness or insomnia, constipation, decreased performance and poor health. To fit into a new time zone, on average, a healthy person needs a day for every hour of difference when flying to the west and a day and a half when flying to the east.

To alleviate the effects of desynchronosis, follow these recommendations:

Before traveling east, try going to bed an hour earlier than usual for 3 days before your flight. Before flying west, on the contrary, go to bed an hour later 3 days before.

Do not drink caffeinated drinks during the flight

In a new place, try to fall asleep for at least 4 hours at a new night time - this will speed up the resetting of the biological clock.

Melatonin-based drugs remain the gold standard in the treatment of desynchronosis. Melatonin is a hormone of the pineal gland that regulates circadian rhythms depending on the length of daylight hours. Melatonin preparations are recommended for use when crossing 5 or more time zones, and they begin to take it 2-3 days before the flight. If you have epilepsy or are taking warfarin, do not use melatonin without consulting your doctor. New, more effective drugs have also appeared that have not yet been registered in the Russian Federation, such as agomelatine (an agonist of melanin and serotonin 5-HT receptors) and ramelteon (an agonist of melatonin receptors).

If you are in a new place for less than 3 days, there is no need to try to adjust to local time.

Special groups of passengers

Each airline may have different requirements, and the captain has the right to refuse travel to any passenger, even if he has a ticket. An indicative list of contraindications for flying is as follows:

Newborns less than 7 days old

Pregnancy over 36 weeks

Coronary heart disease with painful attacks at rest

All serious and/or acute infectious diseases

Decompression sickness

Increased intracranial pressure caused by hemorrhage, trauma, or infection

Myocardial infarction or stroke 7-10 days before the flight

Recent surgery on the abdominal or thoracic cavities, on the skull, on the eyes - i.e. all operations that involve introducing air into a closed body cavity

Severe respiratory illness, shortness of breath at rest, pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity above the lung)

Sickle cell anemia

Exacerbation of mental illness

Passengers with these conditions can only fly on commercial aircraft if accompanied by medical personnel.

Regarding first aid on board, I note that in accordance with British, Canadian and American legislation, passenger doctors are not required to save passengers if they develop any life-threatening condition. In Australia and many countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, on the contrary, a doctor on board is required to provide medical care. In any case, during international flights, a medical professional cannot be held liable for the medical care provided on board, within the limits of his knowledge and experience, even if it was provided incorrectly.

On board any airliner there is always a first aid kit, equipped according to the standard of the country to which the aircraft belongs. All crew members are required to have first aid skills for acute abdominal pain, acute mental agitation, anaphylactic reaction, chest pain (suspicion of myocardial infarction), bronchial asthma attack, cardiac arrest, hypoglycemia, convulsive seizure, loss of consciousness. The quality of first aid training varies from country to country. Unfortunately, I have to admit that in Russia it leaves much to be desired.

Ophthalmology

Yes it is possible. We have patients who fly in and fly out. A lot of patients come to us, to our clinic and to Moscow for surgical treatment. We give recommendations, be sure to write a detailed report indicating what type of operation was performed, what drops need to be applied, what regimen to follow and how often the patient needs to visit an ophthalmologist at his place of residence.

That is, it is not prohibited to fly, the question is when? He can fly right away, get up from the operating table, get on a plane and go on a trip. But there is no need to do this, because the next day he must report to the surgeon for an examination.

The peak of infectious complications occurs on the 4th day, not only during eye operations - during any other operations that are performed on the entire body. This is the peak of the possible manifestation of an infectious agent on the operated organ. Therefore, we warn that if you want to have an operation, but you are a person from out of town or are planning to go, fly, or leave somewhere, then it is better to do this no earlier than a week after the operation. Theoretically, a person can fly away if he has some urgent matter, but in fact it is better for him to stay near the clinic to get a consultation and undergo an examination after laser vision correction.

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People with cancer receive special treatment. Sometimes you have to travel thousands of kilometers for consultations, treatment, or surgery. Exhaustive long-term and daily trips are very difficult to bear. Air travel might not be easier, but at least much faster. The question is: can a cancer patient fly on an airplane?

Air transportation for cancer patients is possible, but permission to fly must be issued by the attending physician. Depending on the disease, the flight has its own characteristics that must be taken into account.

Features of transporting cancer patients by plane

Low pressure on board an aircraft

Airplanes fly at an altitude of 7-12 thousand meters above sea level, the pressure at this distance from the ground is below normal. Naturally, it is increased in the aircraft cabin, but it still remains reduced. As a result, even healthy people experience a lack of oxygen. This may manifest itself as dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and a feeling of weakness. This risk should be especially taken into account by passengers with cancer of the larynx, lung or bronchi, who are constantly lacking oxygen even on the ground. Therefore, a flight with these oncological diseases must be coordinated with the attending physician, and, if possible, take a can of oxygen with you into the aircraft cabin.

Air expansion

When pressure decreases, air, like any gas, expands. Therefore, during takeoff, as the pressure decreases, the air in the paranasal cavity and middle ear expands. In diseases of the ear, nose and throat, this causes discomfort and pain in the ears. And with diseases such as cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, as well as ear cancer, it is felt especially acutely. This fact should also be taken into account when transporting passengers who have undergone operations or diagnostic procedures in the abdomen and chest area using air.

Forced immobility

During a flight, a person is forced to remain in a sitting position for a long time, which leads to numbness in the legs, narrowing of blood vessels, slowing of blood circulation, swelling and the formation of blood clots. The presence of malignant tumors can aggravate the situation even after arrival. Therefore, if a trip is necessary, you should adhere to the following recommendations: wear compression stockings, during the flight, if possible, perform simple exercises to contract the muscles of the lower leg, rub your legs, and periodically lift them. You can also take a blood thinner (with your doctor's permission).

The need for escort and air ambulances

Some cancer patients are advised to fly on commercial aircraft accompanied by medical personnel, as well as the use of special equipment (for example, resuscitation equipment and oxygen tanks) and positioning of the patient (for example, lying down). In this case, it is necessary to resolve these issues in advance with the airline and aviation security.

Another option, for patients in critical condition, is the use of an air ambulance. Specialized medical aircraft are equipped with high-tech equipment, including artificial respiration devices, cardiac monitors and defibrillators, vacuum mattresses, syringe and infusion pumps, which allows emergency medical care to be provided if the patient’s condition worsens during the flight.

Other Possible Problems

When flying, passengers with cancer should take other factors into account, such as weather conditions. In a thunderstorm, squally wind, heavy snowfall. Sometimes, even for healthy people, waiting for many hours at the airport can tire them out and worsen their well-being; what can we say about people weakened by cancer. Therefore, do everything to.

It is also possible that due to unsuitable weather conditions the airport cannot accept the aircraft. In this case, he is sent to an alternate airfield, sometimes even several hundred kilometers away. In this case, travel time to the hospital may increase.

Taking into account all the above factors, the flight of passengers with cancer is possible. Consulting with your doctor in advance and taking precautions will make your flight easier and minimize risks.

During my last flight, my neighbor was a woman who had undergone surgery to remove appendicitis less than a month earlier. This surprised me, because in a similar situation in the past, I was afraid of possible complications and preferred to return the purchased plane ticket. As it turned out, it was in vain. Here's what I learned about flying after surgery.

The first and most important recommendation is to consult a doctor. To identify all the risks, the doctor must know exactly where you are going, how long you will spend in the air, how you feel at the moment and whether you are experiencing pain or discomfort. Based on this information, the doctor will give an opinion on the possibility of flying and, if necessary, prescribe additional medications.

Firstly, the restriction of air travel is associated with the need for enhanced monitoring of the patient’s condition in the postoperative days and the ability to urgently provide medical care to the patient.

The second reason is the sharp pressure drop during takeoff and landing of the aircraft. Such an impact can lead to divergence of recently placed sutures. After about two weeks, the edges of the wound heal and the risk of bleeding becomes minimal. For older people, the healing time is usually longer and can be up to 30 days.

If you have to fly, you should refrain from lifting heavy objects and try to choose a flight that does not require transfers.

Heart surgeries deserve special attention. In the absence of complications and good health, the flight is possible already on the tenth day. However, doctors recommend postponing the flight for at least 4 weeks until the body is completely stabilized. It is also worth noting that when installing a pacemaker, it is necessary to avoid magnetic frames and metal detectors, since failure to comply with this recommendation may lead to malfunction of the device. Before the security check, you need to warn the airport employee about the presence of a pacemaker. In this case, passing through magnetic frames will be replaced by a personal search.

If you have suffered a heart attack or stroke, the requirements for flights become more stringent: air travel is possible no earlier than 3 weeks after the operation with stable recovery of the body. If you have had a difficult operation or have a slow recovery, it is not recommended to fly for the next six months. Also, during the flight you need to have a device for measuring blood pressure and medications recommended by your doctor.

The recovery period after any surgical intervention requires compliance with certain restrictions. Of course, you should significantly reduce the intensity of physical activity and make small adjustments to your usual wardrobe. But there is no reason to deny yourself the pleasure of traveling!

Is it possible to fly on an airplane after mammoplasty? Can! The quality of modern prostheses and new surgical techniques allow women to minimize the number of unpleasant restrictions.

When can you fly after mammoplasty?

Traveling by air transport in itself evokes a lot of interesting sensations. The feeling of flight and the incredible view from the window are attracting more and more travelers.

Don't forget about business flights. After all, many women who have decided to do this do not want to take long breaks in their careers. Modern quality prostheses are no longer “afraid” of pressure changes. The density of the shell allows you to keep the contents of the implant inside without causing any special difficulties. And in order for the prosthesis to be damaged, something more serious must happen than a several hour flight.

Features of the rehabilitation period

Even if you decide to travel on an airplane after mammoplasty, you must remember to follow important rules. To prevent the occurrence of postoperative inflammatory processes, it is necessary to take a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. And it is important to take them at strictly defined hours in order to maintain the concentration of the active substance at the proper level. And it’s so easy to forget about this in the hectic change of time zones!

Until 2-3 weeks, it is forbidden to lift weights that exceed 2-3 kilograms. This means that the contents of your hand luggage must be carefully considered. And the luggage itself must be carried by another person. Another point is related to raising your arms - this is strictly prohibited for 10 days after the operation. It is important to remember this every minute!

Is flying dangerous for dentures?

The times when pressure changes had a negative impact on the condition of implants are long gone! And the idea that they burst at great heights or depths even makes plastic surgeons laugh. Experts fear something completely different.

Air travel is associated with increased stress on a woman’s body. The prostheses themselves are strong enough to withstand any changes in pressure and movement. Doctors are more concerned about the condition of their own tissues and their restoration. Therefore, to the question: “when can you fly after mammoplasty,” experienced plastic surgeons do not have a universal answer. Each person's body is individual!

A long flight with time zone changes is stressful! And how the body, weakened by surgical intervention, will tolerate it is difficult to predict. Therefore, it is better to save energy for recovery in the first few weeks after surgery.