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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - Management
Basis for recommendation
Advice about flying
These recommendations are based on the British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines on managing people with respiratory disease who are planning air travel [British Thoracic Society, 2004] and on expert opinion from review articles [Johnson, 2003; Tzani et al, 2010].
- Arterial oxygen levels fall in healthy air travel passengers, and altitude will exacerbate hypoxaemia in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially if they are hypoxic at sea level.
- People with large bullae may be at risk of pneumothorax, but there is no evidence to indicate at what volume (size of bullae) it is considered unacceptable to travel [British Thoracic Society, 2004].
- For more information, see www.brit-thoracic.org.uk.
Fitness to fly assessment
This information is based on the BTS guidelines on managing passengers with respiratory disease planning air travel [British Thoracic Society, 2004] and on expert opinion from review articles [Johnson, 2003; Tzani et al, 2010].
Hypoxic challenge test
This information is based on expert opinion from review articles [Johnson, 2003; Tzani et al, 2010].
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