List Archives

Tue Jul 3 20:26:21 BST 2007

Recent experience from Operation Iraqi Freedom would discount this as a
legend as well. Casualties are routinely flown from Germany back to the US
within a week of having their chest tube removed.  

Jeffrey Hammond MD, MPH

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
On Behalf Of Ronald Gross
Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2007 2:20 PM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: Re: Advice on air evacuation after pneumothorax?

Mike,

I think this indeed qualifies as an urban legend.  I know of no literature,
including hyperbaric literature, that supports the assertion that on cannot
fly for several weeks after a pneumothorax requiring a chest tube.  

If I am wrong, would anyone care to educate me on this?

Ron

>>> "Sise, Mike MD" <Sise.Mike at scrippshealth.org> 07/03/07 1:56 PM >>>
We have a young male victim of a car crash one month ago in which he
suffered a C7 burst fractures with qudraplegia, multiple bilateral rib
fractures with bilateral hemo-pnuemothoraces and pulmonary contusions.
Last chest tube discontinued 10 days ago. Weaned to trach collar with
supplemental oxygen, saturating well with clear chest X-ray and no reidual
pneumothorax on CT scan chest abdomen pelvis yesterday. 

Family lives on East Coast US, we are in San Diego. Tentativley planning air
evacutation to an East Coast spinal injury rehab center next week, less than
3 weeks since last chest tube out . What impact, if any, does the chest
injury have on the safety of air evacuation? We routinely counsel patients
not to fly for 6 to 12 weeks after a pneumothorax. Is this supported by
evidence or is this another trauma urban legend? 

Your thoughts?

Mike Sise

"Scripps Information Security" 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it may contain privileged and
confidential information and are intended solely for the use of the
individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you are not the
intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to
the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or
copying of this e-mail or any of its attachment(s) is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the
sending individual or entity by e-mail and permanently delete the original
e-mail and attachment(s) from your computer system. Thank you for your
cooperation.

============================================================================
==
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/

Confidentiality Notice

This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the
intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential or proprietary
information which is legally privileged.  Any unauthorized review, use,
disclosure, or distribution is prohibited.  If you are not the intended
recipient, please promptly contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy
all copies of the original message.
--
trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/

List Archives

For your convenience, find the Trauma List Archive Below

Advice on air evacuation after pneumothorax?