DVT exists! Look after yourselves!
 

A sad start to the morning...

A close colleague of mine died this weekend after a LHR-SFO trip in C-class. He had made it onto the shuttle bus and was being driven to his house when he felt faint. He asked the driver to take him to the nearest hospital. On arrival at the hospital he had collapsed and they could not revive him. It seems a blood clot had formed in his leg, them moved to his heart and it killed him.


DVT exists people! Look after yourself on the longhaul flights. Buy those support stockinsg and do some excercise during that flight.

Sadly, I'm off to book a ticket to a funeral,
Jason

Many condolances to you and your colleague's family.

It seems like this is the second time this happened to BA. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Flip

[This message has been edited by flipside (edited 01-23-2002).]

My Condolances to you and your friend as well!

yes we need to be careful on long-haul flights...

Very sad news. Everyone, please check this with your physicians, but I recommend enteric coated aspirin before a flight along with lots of fluids before, during, and after a flight. Also, no alcohol or caffiene. This is in addition to exercise and the use of support stockings for those people who have swelling in their legs (edema).

Who knows how many deadly DVT's occur a longer time after a flight. This is very serious.

[This message has been edited by sea-md (edited 01-23-2002).]

Sorry to hear of this! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

More on dvt:

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000977.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/003487.html

Sea--thanks for the advice. What is "enteric-coated" aspirin? Is that Bufferin?

Researcher Says Fear of Flying May Cause DVT

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/2002..._dvt_dc_2.html

No LemonThrower enteric coated asprin is not Bufferin. It acetylsalicylic acid coated so that absorbtion occurs in the small bowel rather than the stomach so hopefully preventing or reducing indigestion or gastric bleeeding.

Does regular Bayer Aspirin works as well?

My sincere condolences!

I have been very worried about more of this happening now that movement around the cabins are reduced and in some cases restricted.

TravelSmith and Magellan sell little pillows that you put on the floor under your feet. Does anyone know if there is a benefit to these.

My own doc says 'keep moving' but he's not on the airplane to see how hard that is to do.

Thank you.

Just as well...for occasional usage, don't bother with Enteric Coating. It will cost 5 times more... For people who need to be on it everyday such as those with heart disease, it then has some benefits.

Another option, if you are an executive with money to spare. You can get a shot of Dalteparin (which is low-molecular weight heparin) 10,000 units subcutanesously on the day of flight... that will work much better than aspirin. It might cost around $50 with syringe and fee for physician prescription. This is the prevention (known as prophylaxis in medical term) for DVT in high risk patient, often used in surgical and cancer patients. Unlike heparin, the risk of bleeding is much smaller so the benefits are worth it.

My condolonces.

Does getting up and walking around help out?

Re Deltaparin,

Is this something that is (or could) be available from the BA travel clinic at the Airport?

While the risk of DVT and resulting pulmonary embolism may be real (as apx068 points out -- my condolences!), we need to make sure not to go overboard. Heparin, and even the "safer" low-molecular weight heparins like dalteparin, are not trivial and shouldn't be played around with. Even though dalteparin may be safer than heparin itself, it still comes with risk of bleeding complications. The decision to prophylax someone on dalteparin is complicated. If you are undergoing hip replacement or knee replacement surgery, anticoagulation may be indicated since the chance of getting a dvt is between 50%-80% without prophylaxis. The risk of DVT from flying is nowhere near 50-80%, unless you are at high-risk for DVT to begin with. So the question becomes whether you want to eliminate the very small risk of DVT from flying while giving yourself a small risk of something like hemorrhagic stroke or serious internal bleeding? Of course, I don't know what your specific risk factors are, so please speak with your physicians. Self-medicating can be dangerous to your health.

Here are links to some very good sites regarding DVT. They explain the anatomy, venous hemodynamics, risk factors and instructions on how to decrease your risk. Check them out!

A new perspective on DVT patient brochure
http://www.dvt-info.com/patient/newpersp/n01.html

DVT
http://www.airborne.org/flying/health.htm

Economy Class Syndrome , Deep Venous Thrombosis ( DVT )
http://www.injury-lawyer-network.com/ecc.htm

i-MedREVIEW | Adult Medicine > Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
http://www.i-medreview.com/articles_.../deepveno.html

Diseases and Conditions -- Discovery Health -- deep venous thrombosis
http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/e
ncyclopedia/590.html


Edited because I can't put links in right the first time and sometimes even the second time!
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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

[This message has been edited by MoreMilesPlease (edited 01-23-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MoreMilesPlease (edited 01-23-2002).]