HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Seccombe, L M Articles by Peters, M J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Seccombe, L M Articles by Peters, M J

Effect of simulated commercial flight on oxygenation in patients with interstitial lung disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
L M Seccombe
Department of Thoracic Medicine, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia; seccombel{at}email.cs.nsw.gov.au

Background: Commercial aircraft cabins provide a hostile environment for patients with underlying respiratory disease. Although there are algorithms and guidelines for predicting in-flight hypoxaemia, these relate to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and data for interstitial lung disease (ILD) are lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of simulated cabin altitude on subjects with ILD at rest and during a limited walking task.

Methods: Fifteen subjects with ILD and 10 subjects with COPD were recruited. All subjects had resting arterial oxygen pressure (PaO₂) of >9.3 kPa. Subjects breathed a hypoxic gas mixture containing 15% oxygen with balance nitrogen for 20 minutes at rest followed by a 50 metre walking task. Pulse oximetry (SpO₂) was monitored continuously with testing terminated if levels fell below 80%. Arterial blood gas tensions were taken on room air at rest and after the resting and exercise phases of breathing the gas mixture.

Results: In both groups there was a statistically significant decrease in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO₂) and PaO₂ from room air to 15% oxygen at rest and from 15% oxygen at rest to the completion of the walking task. The ILD group differed significantly from the COPD group in resting 15% oxygen SaO₂, PaO₂, and room air pH. Means for both groups fell below recommended levels at both resting and when walking on 15% oxygen.

Conclusion: Even in the presence of acceptable arterial blood gas tensions at sea level, subjects with both ILD and COPD fall below recommended levels of oxygenation when cabin altitude is simulated. This is exacerbated by minimal exercise. Resting sea level arterial blood gas tensions are similarly poor in both COPD and ILD for predicting the response to simulated cabin altitude.

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; simulated flight; interstitial lung disease

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C Geertsema, A B Williams, P Dzendrowskyj, and C Hanna Effect of commercial airline travel on oxygen saturation in athletes Br. J. Sports Med., November 1, 2008; 42(11): 577 - 581. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. T. Kelly, M. P. Swanney, L. M. Seccombe, C. Frampton, M. J. Peters, and L. Beckert Air Travel Hypoxemia vs the Hypoxia Inhalation Test in Passengers With COPD Chest, April 1, 2008; 133(4): 920 - 926. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. K. Coker, R. J. Shiner, and M. R. Partridge Is air travel safe for those with lung disease? Eur. Respir. J., December 1, 2007; 30(6): 1057 - 1063. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.E. Martin, J.M. Bradley, J.B. Buick, I. Bradbury, and J.S. Elborn Flight assessment in patients with respiratory disease: hypoxic challenge testing vs. predictive equations QJM, June 1, 2007; 100(6): 361 - 367. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Luks and E. R. Swenson Travel to high altitude with pre-existing lung disease Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2007; 29(4): 770 - 792. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P Currie, A.-M. Kennedy, E. Paterson, and S. J Watt A chronic pneumothorax and fitness to fly Thorax, February 1, 2007; 62(2): 187 - 189. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Pollock-BarZiv, M. M Cohen, G. P Downey, S. R Johnson, E. Sullivan, and F. X McCormack Air travel in women with lymphangioleiomyomatosis Thorax, February 1, 2007; 62(2): 176 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P Currie and J G. Douglas Oxygen and inhalers. BMJ, July 1, 2006; 333(7557): 34 - 36. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Marcovitch What's new this month in BMJ Journals BMJ, December 11, 2004; 329(7479): 1368 - 1368. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R K Coker and M R Partridge What happens to patients with respiratory disease when they fly? Thorax, November 1, 2004; 59(11): 919 - 920. [Full Text] [PDF]