Pax Flying after angioplasty

[Sir Lee B´stard]

A close relative, aged 60, is due to fly out to visit us in the near future but has been told that she requires an angioplasty procedure for a seriously blocked major artery in one leg. The procedure will be performed mid week and we are wondering how long before she will be fit to fly as pax. Not really germane to the purpose of this board but we would be grateful for any broad based estimate.

[gasman123]

About three days if all goes well, but (without wanting to worry you) occasionally complications can ensue - bleeding at site, clots being thrown off down leg, procedure not working. I'd be cautious about booking anything until you are sure it has all gone well -at least have a low threshold for bailing out, you don't want anyone feeling pressurised to fly before they are ready. Blocked arteries in leg are sometimes associated with furry arteries elsewhere eg the heart so not always a good idea to reduce O2 at altitude esp after a major procedure. Oxygen supply to the leg will also be worse up high.

All that said, the vast majority are completely uneventful so don't get too worried

Hope it all goes well,

GM

[Sir Lee B´stard]

Many thanks, gasman. We were thinking in terms of a couple of weeks or so so no problem if all goes well. Thank you for the good wishes, I fear this is probably the result of a lifetime of heavy smoking coming home to roost; maybe it is the gypsy's warning she will heed:

[cats_five]

Think your relative really needs to take advice from her doctors on this, both about when it will be reasonably safe for her to fly and what she can do to reduce the risks further. (exercise in-flight, flight stockings, asprin and possibly statins come to mind - she may well have a high colesterol as well) If they advise that she needs to be active every hour (or whatever) and it's a lengthy flight she probably needs to ask for a seat where she can get up & down easily.

She certainly needs to be past the stage of any complictions from her operation. Hope it all goes well for her.

[gingernut]

Found this pertaining to coronary angioplasty.. http://gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=-724565946

Would have thought clot formation during flight would be the main issue, as stated below.

May be worth chatting up the surgeon for the specifics, (aspirin stockings etc.)

[Sir Lee B´stard]

Thank you all for the above, the procedure is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon so fingers crossed. I will remind her husband to mention flying to the medical team when he sees his wife post op tomorrow.
Rgds