air travel after chest trauma

[McSwain, Norman E Jr.]

I believe that commercial aircraft are pressurized to ½ ATM which is 8000 ft

 

Norman

 

Norman McSwain Jr, MD FACS

Trauma Director Charity Hospital

Professor of Surgery

Tulane University School of Medicine

504 988 5111

 

From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Jeffrey Hammond
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 11:42 AM
To: ccm-l at ccm-l.org; trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: air travel after chest trauma

 

I know we have discussed air travel guidelines after chest tube removal following chest trauma in the past but I have a modified question. How long should one wait prior to air travel after chest tube removal if the point of departure in greater than 5000 feet?  Since aircraft are pressurized to 5000 feet, and the patient will be leaving at at altitude greater than that (traveling down to sea level), does the recommendation to wait two weeks still hold?
 
Jeffrey Hammond MD, MPH
New Brunswick, NJ