Spontaneous pneumothorax and a medical cert.

[UGAflyer]

Anyone ever had or known someone that has had a spontaneous pneumothorax(collapsed lung) and tried to get a medical certificate? What happened? I have a student that had this happen and was just denied a medical initially and is going to have to jump through all the hoops with Ok. City to try to get one. He is a great student and I hope he gets it but I just wonder if anyone else has had any experience with this?

 

[UGAflyer]

bump..

 

[TDTURBO]

Very unlikely he will ever get a medical because one of the causes is high altitude environments. Here is a short explanation of what it is, what causes it, how it's treated and prevented. Note the last paragraph.

Spontaneous pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the chest that causes the lung to collapse in the absence of a traumatic injury to the chest or lung. A primary spontaneous pneumothorax usually occurs at rest.

The major symptom is sudden chest pain with breathlessness. The pain may be either dull or sharp or stabbing. It begins suddenly and is worsened by breathing deeply or by coughing. Rapid respiratory rate and abnormal breathing movement for example, splinting of ribs with breathing (by bending over or holding the chest) and little chest wall motion when breathing

Spontaneous pneumothorax is seven times more likely to occur in males than females. Male smokers have 22 times the rate of spontaneous pneumothorax compared to nonsmoking males. Female smokers have a 9 times increase in the rate of a spontaneous pneumothorax compared to nonsmoking females . A spontaneous pneumothorax is most likely to occur during the fall or winter months. There are between 800 and 900 cases a year in Canada.

Usually, the rupture of a small bleb or bullae (an air- or fluid-filled sac in the lung) causes primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the setting of known lung disease, most often chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other lung diseases commonly associated with spontaneous pneumothorax include: tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and certain forms of interstitial lung disease.

If left untreated, recurrence rates of a spontaneous pneumothorax are high. Same side recurrence rates as high as 30% at six months and up to 50% at 2 years, without treatment have been reported.

Treatment

The objective of treatment is to remove the air from the pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand. Small pneumothoraces may resolve on their own.

Aspiration of air, through a catheter to a vacuum bottle, may re-expand the lung.

The placement of a chest tube between the ribs into the pleural space allows the evacuation of air from the pleural space, when simple aspiration is not successful, or the pneumothorax is large. Re-expansion of the lung may take several days with the chest tube left in place. Hospitalization is required for chest tube management.

Surgery may be indicated for recurrent episodes.

Patients should discontinue smoking and avoid high altitudes, scuba diving, or flying in unpressurized aircraft to prevent the recurrence of pneumothorax.

Sorry, but I think your freind will always have to fly with a safety pilot for good reason.

 

[jett city]

While the facts that TDTURBO states are correct there is hope for your student. I had a history of this 10+ years ago (do not smoke and no other "issues") and currently have a 1st Class medical with no restrictions. PM me for more info but there is a ton of research about this subject on the net. This is a more common occurence than what most people think. Your student can give up any dreams of flying for the USAF, unless something has changed, but 1st class is possible if the conditions allow.

Jumping through the hoops is necessary but it can be done.



Jett

 

[TDTURBO]

I tend to agree with Jet, nothing surprises me anymore. With enough money and a good aviation attorney with AOPA support and a lot of luck and hoops it might get done. I think it will come down to how much determination he has.

 

[semperfido]

have your student get in touch with the Aviation Doctors at this place. Med info on a forum like this is unreliable at best.

www.aviationmedicine.com

 

[jett city]

Here's a good link

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame_guide/media/item35.pdf

Read the note (10) at the bottom of this PDF. If the link doesn't work go to FAA.gov and search spontaneous pneumothorax.


good stuff





Jett

 

[UGAflyer]

Thanks for all your help. This guy genuinely loves flying and I want to help him any way I can.