Jon-Emile S. Kenny MD [@heart_lung] “If I could only fly … if I could only fly … I’d bid this place goodbye … to come and be with you.” -Blaze Foley Case ‘If there is a physician on board, can you identify yourself to the cabin crew?’ You are nearly 4 hours into a trans-Atlantic flight from New York City to Amsterdam – well into your ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ viewing marathon – when a 21 year old man complains of feeling faint. He is flushed, nauseous and complains of bilateral hand tingling. He stands up to visit the lavatory when he wobbles and collapses into his seat. You see this transpire and identify yourself to the crew and make your way to the ailing passenger. The young man is fully conscious and states that prior to the flight that he and his girlfriend shared a large shellfish platter and bottle of red-wine. He has no known medical history, is on no mediations and has no allergies. There is nothing focal on a cursory neurological survey and absolutely no signs of upper airway compromise. You open the emergency medical kit, check his fingerstick glucose – which is normal – and attempt to measure his blood pressure with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, but ambient engine noise prevents you from hearing the Korotkoff sounds. By palpation, he has a systolic blood pressure of 90-100 mmHg and a heart rate of 98 beats per minute. A crew member states, “Doctor, the pilot is ready to land in Reykjavik if needed.”
In-Flight Medical Events & Emergencies: part 1
In-Flight Medical Events & Emergencies: part…
In-Flight Medical Events & Emergencies: part 1
Jon-Emile S. Kenny MD [@heart_lung] “If I could only fly … if I could only fly … I’d bid this place goodbye … to come and be with you.” -Blaze Foley Case ‘If there is a physician on board, can you identify yourself to the cabin crew?’ You are nearly 4 hours into a trans-Atlantic flight from New York City to Amsterdam – well into your ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ viewing marathon – when a 21 year old man complains of feeling faint. He is flushed, nauseous and complains of bilateral hand tingling. He stands up to visit the lavatory when he wobbles and collapses into his seat. You see this transpire and identify yourself to the crew and make your way to the ailing passenger. The young man is fully conscious and states that prior to the flight that he and his girlfriend shared a large shellfish platter and bottle of red-wine. He has no known medical history, is on no mediations and has no allergies. There is nothing focal on a cursory neurological survey and absolutely no signs of upper airway compromise. You open the emergency medical kit, check his fingerstick glucose – which is normal – and attempt to measure his blood pressure with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, but ambient engine noise prevents you from hearing the Korotkoff sounds. By palpation, he has a systolic blood pressure of 90-100 mmHg and a heart rate of 98 beats per minute. A crew member states, “Doctor, the pilot is ready to land in Reykjavik if needed.”