I think it's unlikely that either of these patients will come to any serious
long term harm from flying, in the sense of e.g. bad angina + decompression
=> MI. However they both might be quite _unwell_ and I feel it is my duty
to point this out to them and let them decide.
Dr G Mark Trowell
Highbridge Medical Centre
Pepperall Road
Highbridge
Somerset
TA9 3YA
Highbridge - "A cemetery with lights"
(01278) 783220
(01278) 795486 (Fax)
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Sam Macfie
Sent: 06 May 1998 21:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: fit to fly?
On Wed, 6 May 1998 18:58:51 +0100, you wrote:
>Saw a 70yr old today with acute onset vestibular disturbance (first
episode,
>no h/o vascular disease) still had the (thankfully empty) basin in front of
>her and displayed nystagmus after head movement.
>
>I gave her buccastem and she asked if she could still go to Teneriffe on
>Friday? If she feels better should I let her fly?
Good question. Erring on the side of caution, I would probably have
advised against as she obviously has a significant vestibular problem
and 48 hours is a short time to recover. I suspect the stress of
travel would be more of a challenge to her than the lowered cabin
pressure.
I pondered an allied question myself this morning when a 17 year old
came to see me for the second time with a blocked Eustachian tube
after a week of taking sudafed. He is due to fly in 6 days. I advised
continuation of sudafed and that if his ear is still blocked that
there is a risk of TM perforation. However I don't know what the odds
are and no doubt numerous air travellers have URTIs without more than
discomfort with changes in altitude. I did not feel I should advise
cancellation of his holiday.
>
>Chris Burton
>
>GP; Sanquhar Dumfriesshire
*****************************************
Sam Macfie
Haxby, York, UK
email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.haxby.demon.co.uk
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