New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Patients with hypoventilation may need supplemental oxygen on-board flights

Date:
August 4, 2014
Source:
Wiley
Summary:
Severely overweight people who suffer from hypoventilation can have abnormally low levels of oxygen in their blood during air travel as a result of reduced atmospheric pressure in the cabin of aircrafts.
Share:
FULL STORY

Severely overweight people who suffer from hypoventilation can have abnormally low levels of oxygen (hypoxaemia) in their blood during air travel as a result of reduced atmospheric pressure in the cabin of aircrafts.

In a recent Respirology study, even patients diagnosed with obesity hypoventilation syndrome who were in the care of specialist and had normal daytime blood oxygen levels were still at risk of hypoxaemia when flying.

"The findings suggest that it is advisable for all hypoventilation syndrome patients to do a hypoxic challenge test before air travel to be better prepared for the possibility that supplementary oxygen on-board or non-invasive ventilation is needed," said lead author Dr. Masood Ali.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Masood Ali, Ian E. Smith, Atul Gulati, John M. Shneerson. Pre-flight assessment in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Respirology, 2014; DOI: 10.1111/resp.12353

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Patients with hypoventilation may need supplemental oxygen on-board flights." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 August 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140804123325.htm>.
Wiley. (2014, August 4). Patients with hypoventilation may need supplemental oxygen on-board flights. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140804123325.htm
Wiley. "Patients with hypoventilation may need supplemental oxygen on-board flights." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140804123325.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES