Flight-related complications are infrequent in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia/pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, despite low oxygen saturations and anaemia.

Abstract

Individuals with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) commonly have low oxygen saturations and anaemia, two parameters generally used to indicate medical fitness to fly. Using a retrospective questionnaire-based study, the authors examined in-flight complications and predictors in 145 HHT patients (96 with PAVMs) who reported 3950 flights, totalling 18 943 flight hours. Dyspnoea and thrombotic complications were less common than expected, and could not be predicted from sea level oxygen saturations or haemoglobin concentrations. Nosebleeds that can bar individuals from boarding a flight occurred in 13.6% (11.5% to 15.8%) of long-haul flights. The findings should influence preflight advice.