Air Travel, Physiologic Venous Dilation
Conditions
Keywords
Cabin Class, Business Class, First Class, Economy Class, Popliteal Vein, Duplex Ultrasound, Medical Tourism
Brief summary
This prospective cohort study will compare popliteal vein diameter changes in international travelers who independently fly to Bogota in premium business/first class or economy class. Standardized bilateral ultrasound will be performed before flight, within 2 hours after arrival, and at 24 and 48 hours. The primary outcome is the adjusted between-group difference in change from preflight diameter to arrival. Travel behavior and venous-risk confounders will be measured prospectively.
Detailed description
Travelers with documented premium or economy itineraries will be enrolled before departure. Bilateral popliteal vein diameter and cross-sectional area will be measured using a standardized ultrasound protocol before flight and three times after arrival, all before surgery. Actual seat characteristics, flight duration, connections, ambulation, fluid intake, alcohol, sedatives, and compression stocking use will be recorded. Mixed-effects and propensity-weighted analyses will compare the magnitude and persistence of dilation between cabin groups while acknowledging that cabin class is not randomized.
Interventions
OTHERPremium Cabin Air Travel Exposure
Preexisting travel exposure defined by the cabin actually flown. Seat pitch, recline, lie-flat capability, aisle/window position, and ambulation opportunities will be recorded. Linked arm/group(s): Premium Cabin Travelers.
OTHEREconomy Cabin Air Travel Exposure
Preexisting economy-cabin exposure with documentation of seat characteristics, position, movement, hydration, and other travel behaviors. Linked arm/group(s): Economy Cabin Travelers.
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTStandardized Bilateral Popliteal Vein Ultrasound
Triplicate anteroposterior and transverse diameter and cross-sectional-area measurements in both legs after a standardized resting period, with compressibility and flow assessment. Linked arm/group(s): Premium Cabin Travelers, Economy Cabin Travelers.
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. * Commercial flight to Bogota with at least 4 hours of total airborne time. * Prebooked premium business/first-class or economy-class seat documented before enrollment. * Standardized preflight ultrasound within 24 hours before departure. * Arrival, 24-hour, and 48-hour ultrasound completed before surgery. * Written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Current or prior unprovoked deep venous thrombosis requiring therapeutic anticoagulation. * Therapeutic anticoagulation during the study window. * Current pregnancy. * Lower-extremity condition preventing standardized bilateral popliteal ultrasound. * Surgery, prolonged immobilization, or major intravenous fluid administration before completion of the 48-hour scan. * Use of cabin upgrade after baseline or inability to verify the actual cabin flown.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Between-Cabin Difference in Change in Mean Bilateral Popliteal Vein Diameter | Within 24 hours before departure and within 2 hours after arrival at the study site. 3 days | Difference between premium and economy groups in the participant-level change from preflight baseline to arrival. Diameter will be the mean of triplicate anteroposterior measurements in both legs and will be reported in millimeters. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Incidental Venous Thrombosis or Abnormal Compressibility | From preflight baseline through 48 hours after arrival. 3 days | Number and proportion with a new abnormality requiring immediate clinical assessment. |
Countries
Colombia
Contacts
CONTACTHugo Aguilar, MD, Plastic surgeon
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHugo Aguilar
Outcome results
None listed