I have WPW syndrome, can I fly?

[Spiceman]

I recently failed a Royal Navy (aircrew) medical due to me having a Wolf-Parkinson White syndrome. After a second ECG and Ultrasound, my cardiologist assures me that my heart can be fixed.

Question is, will this fix be sufficient to please the Central Air/Admiralty Medical Board and get me into the air? Is there anyone else on the board who has suffered a similar problem, particularly with regards military flying?

[Garret 331]

Spiceman

I to had WPW a few years ago. I no longer have any problems (not that I had any symptoms and 3 operations later) and now hold a class one medical with no restrictions. I guess they treat me now as if the condition never existed.

As for the military, I couldn't tell you what the outcome would be.:(

Good luck anyway.

[sunshinefun]

I have Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (congenital) I have done some searches and reading on WPW and aviation but no 'yes' or 'no' answers.

Although I have a 'big' heart, I served in the SA Air force and passed the medicals for officers course (G1K1) -20 yrs ago.

Will I pass the medical?

Thanks

[Bad medicine]

Try this thread

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=264758

[disilussion]

Hello,
first of all sorry for my English - I'm from Poland. :) I understand what I read, worse with writing... ;) On the polish Internet forums I can't find any information...

I am 27 years old woman and I have WPW syndrome. All the time I take medications: propafenonum 150 mg x3. I get a supraventricular tachycardia about once a year - end at the time and stop on its own. I don't have any other diseases.

I scheduled a flight to Turkey (from Poland flight takes 3 hours). Do people with WPW categorically can't fly a plane? I know that pilots with WPW syndrome can't fly, but if a private person too? I'm getting conflicting information and I'm very scared. : ( Is a small amount of oxygen can lead to hypoxemia? Could this cause supraventricular tachycardia? Or atrial fibrillation with a small amount of oxygen? (I never had atrial fibrillation, but I know that with WPW syndrome this is dangerous).

I really want to go, but I had read so many strange things ...
I read that conditions pressurized cabin not have much effect on the heart. Elsewhere, wrote that as a result of less oxygen, heart rate increases and creates a rhythm disturbance. Maybe then I can get the SVT?

The guidelines also give different information. One wrote that "well-controlled supraventricular arrhytmias - unrestricted", in the second case: "Cardiovasculat Contraindications to commercial airline flight: Uncontrolled ventricular or supraventricular tachycardia" :(

In many places, also write that uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia is a contraindication to fly. What is 'uncontrolled'? Is my arrhythmia is uncontrolled? I take medication, but supraventricular tachycardia can get out of control. I am very worried....

has anyone traveled with WPW syndrome?

Should I cancel trip? Doctors give conflicting information ...

Greetings

[Radgirl]

WPW is totally different from atrial fibrillation

Wolfe Parkinson White is something you are born with. You have an extra electrical connection between the bottom half and top half of the heart. The electrical current normally goes from top to bottom but this extra connection makes it go in a circle and fire off the top bit just after it has fired normally. This causes the heart to stop beating normally

However many people who have this WPW have had no symptoms ever. The diagnosis is made by ECG. Drugs are used but in the west the definitive treatment is ablation where we destroy the connection by passing a wire from the groin to the connection and burning it away. I don't know whether this is available in your country

Because of the risk of sudden incapacitation you can't fly as a pilot whatsoever. However depressurisation and reduced oxygen have no effect. It is an electrical problem. So you can fly as a passenger

[disilussion]

Radgirl, thank you very much for your answer! I am very pleased. You gave me hope :)

I understand. I have episodes of supraventricular tachycardia from 15 years. Occur once a year. Last year, I had three episodes in one month. Then my doctor increased the dose of beta blocker. I've never had atrial fibrillation, but I know that it can happen to me (not necessarily in a plane) and then combined with WPW is dangerous...

Ablation ... yes, it's available in our country, but I'm afraid of complications. Medicine in Poland is probably not at such a high level ...

In our doctors say that people with WPW shouldn't fly even as a passenger. I don't know why that is? Perhaps it's just a risk that SVT can happen on the plane as well as in my home. (?)

I was looking for English-language instructions on the contra-flying. The information is very different. In many, however, it says that people with uncontrolled arrhythmias shouldn't fly as passengers. It was also written that as a result of less oxygen, heart reacts tachycardia. Is this true? I found even studies that test pilots doing with asymptomatic WPW, as a result of less oxygen, there have been some changes in the ECG (although it failed to induce SVT). But these were people with asymptomatic WPW, and mine is symptomatic ... (during SVT heart beats about 220 beats per minute).
Perhaps conditions may cause changes in the electrical (?)

Sorry to whine here. :) I know it's wrong place, but desperately looking for an informed opinion. The Polish media have not found anything about it, my doctor can't be sure of their opinion too...

Thank you again! I've been close to giving up the flight...

[disilussion]

Sorry, it's me again :)

I readed "The Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome as an Aviation Risk" and conclusion is:

"Three patients were made mildly hypoxic in the low pressure chamber. After approximately 5 minutes at a simulated altitude of 18,000 feet without oxygen, ST-segment depression appeared on their electrocardiograms but promptly returned to normal after they breathed 100 per cent oxygen. One patient's tracing showed intermittent WV-P-W beats while he was in the low pressure chamber, and there was no ST-segment depression in the normal complexes of the same tracing. We were unable to precipitate an episode of paroxysmal tachycardia in any of the patients studied".

...but it was patient with asymptomatic WPW. The result that less oxygen is important for patients with WPW. And my WPW is symptomatic, so maybe people with symptomatic WPW can't fly..

[Radgirl]

If you PM me the data on flying causing problems I am happy to look at it

However I see no reason why flying increases your risk. Exercise puts up your heart rate far more than depressurisation. The airlines may not want you as a passenger because you are always going to be a risk, but your question was whether flying was an increased risk to you.

If you are having arrhythmias you may wish to see if you can get treatment elsewhere in Europe under reciprocal agreements. Or ask to see a cardiologist and specifically ask him the success rate and risks of ablation in Poland

Good luck

[disilussion]

Radgirl, thank you once again. I read many different stories about the people with WPW from USA and major European countrie,s that perhaps in the end I'll decide for ablation to live life normally. In Poland, perform ablation in several places. Unfortunately, in a queue waiting to ablation sometimes even a few years...

I sent you a PM with one article :)

[shaw]

hello everyone.

i am a student pilot,and i apply for the class 1 certificates.

after 24 hours ECG,they think i am WPW. so can only give me class 1 OML,but i am the new one to apply the medical,i dont have class one yet.

how can i continue fly?i am confuse about the medical(cause i am not a native English speaker.)

i have flown 60 hours! also i get class 1 certificate in china ,i think it's a pity if i can't fly anymore.:{

have you ever encounter the situation?can you please give me some advise.

kind regards

[Radgirl]

Hi Shaw

Nothing has changed in 5 years. Please look at the earlier posts. You need to discuss your condition with a cardiologist. This really isnt about flying, it is about a medical problem that needs treating. In my world, if you really have WPW you get it ablated because otherwise there is a risk...... The procedure is routine and safe. Once ablated you do not have WPW and I would expect you to have no issues with a medical....