Scientific impact paper No.1 - Air travel and Pregnancy

Question 1

If there are significant risk factors for preterm birth when should it be advised that women do not fly after. i.e multiple pregnancy.

Answer 1

32 weeks

Question 2

Examples of relevant medical complications which may occur during pregnancy which would CI commercial air travel include:

Answer 2

Severe anaemia Hb<75
recent haemorrhage
Ottitis media/sinusitis
Serious cardiac or respiratory disease
Recent sickling crisis
Recent GI surgery where suture lines could come under stress
a bony fracture

Question 3

By how much does prolonged air travel increase the absolute incidence of VTE?

Answer 3

around three fold
With an 18% higher risk of VTE for each 2 hour increase in flight duration.

Question 4

What VTE prophylaxis is suggested for all pregnant women on medium to long-haul flights >4hours

Answer 4

Wear properly fitted graduated elastic compression stockings

Question 5

For women with additional risk factors for thrombosis what is suggested for VTE prophylaxis on flights >4hr

Answer 5

Stockings and LMWH at the same dose as for antenatal prophylaxis on the day of travel and several days after.
No evidence to suggest how long to continue.

Question 6

Is there any evidence of air travel increasing the risk of preterm labour, ROM or abruption

Answer 6

No evidence.

Question 7

How many hours of flying at 39,000 feet would result in a radiation dose above recommended safe limit.

Answer 7

160hrs

Question 8

Body scanners utilise ionising radiation. The dose received from such a scan is equivalent to the dose received from flying a cruising altitude for how long?

Answer 8

Less than 2 minutes
Or 1 hour at ground level.

Question 9

Bodyscanners that utilise millimetre wave units that provide 3D images have emission levels that are equivalent to

Answer 9

10,000 times lower than a mobile phone