Otolaryngological and Neuro-Vestibular Considerations for Commercial Spaceflight

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Neuro-Vestibular Science

Background:

• The commercial spaceflight (CSF) market is expanding, increasing access for individuals without professional astronaut qualifications.
• Nonprofessional space travelers may have pre-existing medical conditions, complicating spaceflight preparation and risk assessment.
• Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and neuro-vestibular considerations are crucial for this growing demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of biomedical literature concerning ENT and neuro-vestibular conditions relevant to nonprofessional space travelers.
• To identify knowledge gaps in the medical preparation and risk assessment for commercial spaceflight passengers.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• An initial search yielded 3232 articles, which were systematically filtered by two reviewers to 142 relevant publications based on strict inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• Motion sickness and spatial disorientation were the most frequently addressed topics in the reviewed literature.
• Limited information was found regarding other critical ENT issues, including hearing loss, sino-nasal dysfunction, and pharyngeal conditions.

Conclusions:

• Optimal medical guidance for CSF passengers requires integrating current biomedical research with aeromedical expertise.
• Establishing an industry-wide CSF medical database is recommended to address identified care gaps and enhance specialized aerospace medical knowledge.