Air Travel in Cardiorespiratory Disease

We believe that a useful classification for planned air travel for patients with cardio-respiratory disease can be developed at a series of limiting altitudes ranging in 2,000 feet decrements from 10,000 feet to 2,000 feet in the cabin. By putting a limit, rather than making a recommendation of safety, it is felt that some of the objection to such a classification can be overcome. The time factor has not been accounted for at this time. A method of considering various aircraft, from the pulmonary physiologic point of view, is given together with some of the performance characteristics of certain aircraft in this regard. It is shown that respiratory acidosis and ventilatory restriction are perhaps the most important limiting factors with alveolar-capillary block as a less common consideration. It is felt that the average physician is in a position to classify patients. Such a classification moreover, could be useful to airlines accepting patients with cardio-respiratory disorders for air travel. (The partial data summarized have been selected and compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but are not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness either by the authors, the Journal, or the American College of Chest Physicians.)