26 years
My father is abt 60 from a week he had open heart surg.now everything is going GD as the doctors are saying.he needs to travel to Kuwait 2 months later on.can he travel if everything is fine?
Aug 15, 2014
If your father had coronary artery bypass grafts (open heart bypass surgery) and his condition is stable then he can usually fly after about six weeks (longer if he had pulmonary complications).
Generally speaking, if he can walk briskly for 100 meters on the flat without being breathless or in pain, he can fly.
However, some heart patients at high risk are advised to “defer travel” until their condition is stable, including those:
>having an ejection fraction <40%
>showing signs and symptoms of poorly controlled heart failure
>with unstable angina or uncontrolled arrhythmias
>awaiting further investigation, revascularization, or device therapy
But even when his docyor has officially given you the green light to fly again, remember that severe fatigue can continue to be a serious issue for heart patients long after the other physical effects of cardiac procedures have healed.
SOME TIPS TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION :
>request an airport wheel chair or a ride to connecting gates on the airline golf cart
> limit the weight and size of your carry-on bag
> plan ahead and arrive at the airport significantly early for any flight to minimize rushing or stress.
>If fear of flying has ever been a serious issue even before his own cardiac event, it may indeed feel worse now. Ask your own doctor about advice on taking a a mild sedative just before you board the plane. And learn more about getting over that fear of flying.
>For heart patients who sport implanted medical devices It is usually not enough to set off airport security metal detectors; if it does, simply show security personnel your patient identification card. Passing through a metal detector should not hurt the device.
> However, do not let linger near the security system arches or poles. Doing so may interrupt your therapy.
>Although a long-haul flight doubles the risk of DVT, it is actually similar to that incurred during car, bus, or train travel for a similar period
>There are some recommended common sense flight precautions for those at risk of DVT:
-consume plenty of fluids
-exclude caffeine and alcohol
-wear compression stockings
-take a dose of low-molecular-weight heparin (a blood thinner)
-wear a MedicAlert bracelet or dogtag necklace at all times
-talk to your doctor to confirm that your cardiac disease is stable
-carry adequate supplies of all prescribed medicine
-carry a copy of your medical history
-carry emergency phone numbers for your doctor(s), family members and destination contacts
At the end of my answer ,I can say that the better to decide your father stability is his own heart surgeon and doctor following him up ,they know his case and his stable condition ,let him have checked out before traveling take a full report of his case and surgery ,he will be asked for in Kuwait whenever he go to the hospital for any check ups or follow ups or emergency .
Generally speaking, if he can walk briskly for 100 meters on the flat without being breathless or in pain, he can fly.
However, some heart patients at high risk are advised to “defer travel” until their condition is stable, including those:
>having an ejection fraction <40%
>showing signs and symptoms of poorly controlled heart failure
>with unstable angina or uncontrolled arrhythmias
>awaiting further investigation, revascularization, or device therapy
But even when his docyor has officially given you the green light to fly again, remember that severe fatigue can continue to be a serious issue for heart patients long after the other physical effects of cardiac procedures have healed.
SOME TIPS TO TAKE IN CONSIDERATION :
>request an airport wheel chair or a ride to connecting gates on the airline golf cart
> limit the weight and size of your carry-on bag
> plan ahead and arrive at the airport significantly early for any flight to minimize rushing or stress.
>If fear of flying has ever been a serious issue even before his own cardiac event, it may indeed feel worse now. Ask your own doctor about advice on taking a a mild sedative just before you board the plane. And learn more about getting over that fear of flying.
>For heart patients who sport implanted medical devices It is usually not enough to set off airport security metal detectors; if it does, simply show security personnel your patient identification card. Passing through a metal detector should not hurt the device.
> However, do not let linger near the security system arches or poles. Doing so may interrupt your therapy.
>Although a long-haul flight doubles the risk of DVT, it is actually similar to that incurred during car, bus, or train travel for a similar period
>There are some recommended common sense flight precautions for those at risk of DVT:
-consume plenty of fluids
-exclude caffeine and alcohol
-wear compression stockings
-take a dose of low-molecular-weight heparin (a blood thinner)
-wear a MedicAlert bracelet or dogtag necklace at all times
-talk to your doctor to confirm that your cardiac disease is stable
-carry adequate supplies of all prescribed medicine
-carry a copy of your medical history
-carry emergency phone numbers for your doctor(s), family members and destination contacts
At the end of my answer ,I can say that the better to decide your father stability is his own heart surgeon and doctor following him up ,they know his case and his stable condition ,let him have checked out before traveling take a full report of his case and surgery ,he will be asked for in Kuwait whenever he go to the hospital for any check ups or follow ups or emergency .
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Usually it's safe to fly in 6-8 weeks after coronaryartery bbypass surgery, just as long as the blood thinning indicators are well controlled (these are PT, PTT & INR) because travel predisposes to blood clotting and this is especially dangerous in individuals with coronary artery disease. It's of equal importance to get the cardiologist's clearance - he/she knows best your father's condition and response to surgery.
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