Air Travel, Physiologic Venous Dilation
Conditions
Keywords
Popliteal Vein, Air Travel, Medical Tourism, Venous Diameter, Duplex Ultrasound, Long-Haul Flight
Brief summary
This prospective repeated-measures study will evaluate how long popliteal vein dilation persists after international commercial air travel to Bogota. Adult medical travelers will undergo standardized bilateral popliteal vein ultrasound within 24 hours before departure, within 2 hours after arrival, and at 24 and 48 hours after arrival, all before surgery. The primary outcome is change in mean bilateral popliteal vein diameter over time.
Detailed description
Eligible international travelers will complete a standardized preflight ultrasound and three postarrival examinations before surgery or intravenous fluid therapy. Each scan will be performed after a fixed resting period using the same popliteal landmark, minimal transducer pressure, and triplicate bilateral measurements. Flight duration, class, seat characteristics, movement, fluid intake, compression stocking use, and venous risk factors will be recorded. Mixed-effects analysis will estimate the postflight diameter and cross-sectional-area trajectory and the proportion returning to within 10% of baseline by 48 hours.
Interventions
OTHERCommercial Air Travel Exposure
Participants complete a commercial flight of at least 4 hours to Bogota. Flight duration, connections, cabin class, seat characteristics, movement, fluid intake, alcohol, sedatives, and compression stocking use will be recorded. Linked arm/group(s): Postflight Repeated-Measures Cohort.
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTStandardized Bilateral Popliteal Vein Duplex Ultrasound
After at least 10 minutes of supine rest, the popliteal vein will be imaged at a fixed landmark with minimal probe pressure. Anteroposterior and transverse diameters, cross-sectional area, compressibility, and flow will be recorded in both legs, with three repeated measurements averaged. Linked arm/group(s): Postflight Repeated-Measures Cohort.
Sponsors
Research Inc
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 to 65 years. * International commercial flight to Bogota with total airborne time of at least 4 hours. * Preflight baseline ultrasound obtained within 24 hours before departure using the standardized protocol. * Arrival ultrasound completed within 2 hours after reaching the study site and before surgery or intravenous fluid therapy. * Availability for 24-hour and 48-hour examinations. * Written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Known current deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. * Therapeutic anticoagulation at enrollment. * Major lower-extremity venous surgery, active leg infection, or condition preventing popliteal ultrasound. * Surgery, prolonged immobilization, or substantial intravenous fluid administration before completion of the 48-hour measurement. * Pregnancy. * Nondiagnostic baseline examination or inability to reproduce the landmark.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Mean Bilateral Popliteal Vein Diameter | Within 24 hours before departure; within 2 hours after arrival at the study site; 24 +/- 2 hours after arrival; and 48 +/- 2 hours after arrival. 1 week | At each visit, the mean of three anteroposterior diameter measurements in each leg will be calculated, followed by the mean of both legs. Change from the participant's preflight value will be reported in millimeters and as percent change. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Return of Popliteal Vein Diameter to Baseline | 24 +/- 2 hours and 48 +/- 2 hours after arrival. 1 week | Proportion of participants whose mean bilateral diameter is within plus or minus 10% of their preflight value. |
| Incidental Venous Thrombosis or Abnormal Compressibility | From preflight baseline through 48 hours after arrival. 1week | Number and proportion of participants with a new noncompressible venous segment or other finding requiring diagnostic clinical evaluation. This research protocol is not designed as a definitive thrombosis screening examination unless the final duplex protocol is expanded. |
Countries
Colombia
Contacts
CONTACTHugo Aguilar, MD, Plastic surgeon
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHugo Aguilar, MD, plastic surgery
Outcome results
None listed