A case of a naval aviator on quinidine for lone atrial fibrillation

While neither atrial fibrillation (AF) nor the therapeutic use of quinidine represent medical contraindications for civil aviation in the United States, they have both been indications for permanent grounding in the U.S. armed forces. We report a case of a naval aviator who was found to be in asymptomatic AF while undergoing a routine annual flight physical. The patient was pharmacologically converted and maintained in normal sinus rhythm with quinidine. Following review of his case by a Special Board of Flight Surgeons, he was returned to limited flight status for dual controlled aircraft only while maintained prophylactically on quinidine to prevent the recurrence of AF.