There are barely 15 days of school left and with the children already on vacation the first summer trips begin, some of them taking planes.
But with everything already prepared to fly, what we probably have not fallen into is the danger that this means of transport can pose to patients suffering from respiratory or cardiac disorders.
And not only adults, but also children.
As they explain from the the pressure in an airplane cabin in mid-flight is similar to what can be experienced climbing a mountain at 2,500 meters high.
The consequence of this situation is that the availability of oxygen is reduced, and this directly affects respiratory capacity.
It is something that a priori does not pose a problem for people, but it can entail a significant risk for those who have a chronic respiratory pathology -such as severe or cystic fibrosis- or cardiac.
What is the “flight test”
To avoid problems, pediatricians explain that there is a simple way to know if a patient is ready or not to fly.
They are called “flight test”. A very simple test in which, for 15 or 20 minutes, the conditions that occur during the flight are simulated, with a lower than usual oxygen concentration, to see how the patient reacts.
As he explains to us Dr. Borja Osona Rodríguezpediatrician at the Pediatric Pneumology Unit of Palma de Mallorca.
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“If you have a disease, that oxygen reduction can cause you problems.”
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“Therefore, if when doing the test we observe a drop in oxygen saturation, we understand that you will need oxygen to fly and we guide the amount you need to do so without risk.”
Is it possible to fly with an oxygen pump?
The problem is that, regardless of the recommendation made by pediatricians, it is not allowed to fly with an oxygen pump, so the solution for each patient will depend on the airlines.
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“Some provide oxygen on board for free”
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“In other cases you have to pay quite a high price for it”
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“And some companies, directly, do not give this option to passengers.”
And as Dr. Osona, a pediatric pulmonologist, clarifies.
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“Since oxygen cylinders cannot be taken on the plane, what we can provide in these cases from the public health system are oxygen concentrators, which work with a battery and supply unlimited oxygen as long as they are connected to the current. In short, it’s quite simple if you request it and prepare it ahead of time.”
A test unknown by the vast majority of patients
Despite the large number of pediatric patients with respiratory diseases, and the fact that it is a relatively simple test, very few request a flight test.
And not only children, nor do adult patients request it.
The reason is that they are not aware of the risks that traveling at height can entail and are unaware of the existence of this type of medical examination.
In the Balearic Islands, one of the autonomous communities where this type of test is most practiced due to the frequency with which its inhabitants travel by plane, around 50-60 tests are carried out annually at the Hospital de Son Espases, the only one that performs it. to children and adolescents in the Balearic Islands.
Where is this test performed?
The Pneumology Services of the hospitals are in charge of carrying out this flight test.
In addition, in the infant stage it is only necessary to do it once, as long as the disease remains stable and there are no changes.
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“If a deterioration is seen or the patient’s conditions change, the test will have to be repeated again. But if this is not the case, we assume that he is stable and that the regimen of the first time is adequate,” says Dr. Osona.
For this specialist, now the challenge is:
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“Getting to increase the knowledge of primary care paediatricians and pulmonology specialists about the risks that flying by plane can pose for patients with respiratory or cardiac diseases. And that they know that there are simple and affordable tests to establish that risk and the oxygen needs of each patient.