[Experiences of pulmonary disease on jet planes]

A group of patients with serious chronic diseases of the chest (n = 18) travelled from northern Norway to Yugoslavia for treatment (approximately four hours air travel and 16 hours total travel). The group included patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sequelas after tuberculous disease and resections for lung cancer. Minute lung function tests were performed before departure. SaO2 was monitored by pulsoximetri during the flight. All patients experienced a fall in SaO2 during the flight. Patients with restrictive pulmonary disease or combined restrictive/obstructive disease fell significantly lower than the rest of the group (p less than 0.001), and they experienced serious discomfort. Recommendations for minimum lung functions are FEV1 greater than 1.0 liter, PaOa greater than 9.3 kPa and PCO2 less than 7.0 kPa.