#DrKKAnswers:
Patients with uncomplicated heart attack, or those who have undergone uncomplicated percutaneous coronary interventions should not fly until at least two to three weeks have passed and they are tolerating their usual daily activities.
Travel in the week immediately after coronary stent placement should be avoided, due to the high risk of acute stent thrombosis during this time.
Following a heart attack, a stress test is recommended in all low-risk patients.
Patients with heart attack complicated by severely depressed cardiac function or an untoward event during treatment should not fly until two weeks after they are deemed medically stable.
Unstable angina is a contraindication to air travel.
Stable angina is generally well tolerated during flight.
Severe decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF) is a contraindication to flight.
Patients with class III or IV New York Heart Association CHF should be carefully assessed to determine whether they will need inflight oxygen.
Symptomatic valvular heart disease is a relative contraindication to airline travel.
Medically stable patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are at low risk for inflight emergencies. They should carry a pacemaker card along with a copy of the most recent ECG done with and without a magnet.
There is no evidence that airline electronics or airport security devices interfere with implanted pacemakers or ICDs.
There is a theoretical risk that the ICD might detect the alternating magnetic field created by the handheld wand, which could lead to an inadvertent shock or inhibition of the ICD's pacemaker output. Thus, patients with ICDs should request a hand search.
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