xkcd
Campaigns
TS-Si supports open and immediate access to publicly funded research.
Petition: remove women of transsexual / intersex history from the GLAAD Media Reference Guide. [ sign ]
Read: Andrea Rosenfield's call for reform.
Opening Doors to Transsexual Medical Research
TS-Si
is dedicated to the acceptance, medical
treatment, and legal
protection of individuals correcting the misalignment
of their brains and their anatomical sex, while supporting their transition
into society as hormonally reconstituted and surgically corrected citizens.
is dedicated to the acceptance, medical
treatment, and legal
protection of individuals correcting the misalignment
of their brains and their anatomical sex, while supporting their transition
into society as hormonally reconstituted and surgically corrected citizens.
| Risk Of Venuous Thrombosis In Long-haul Flights |
 |
 |
| SciMed - Horizons | |||
| TS-Si News Service | |||
| Tuesday, 02 October 2007 20:00 | |||
|
One event in 4,656 flights at a mean age of 40 years
Patients often travel considerable distances for surgery. This is especially true of those traveling to obtain corrective surgery for their genital misalignment, requiring long periods in a sitting position in a car or on an airplane. It can be particularly uncomfortable for patients immediately after their surgery. Moreover, high-risk hormones, such as ethinyl estradiol (EE), can elevate the risks beyond acceptable levels.
 A venous thrombosis is a blood clot that forms and remains in the place where it formed (such as a vein). Most varieties can be uncomfortable but generally do not have serious consequences. However, if a piece of the clot formed in a vein should break off, it can travel to the right side of the heart, and from there to the lungs.
A piece of thrombus that is transported in this way is an embolism: the process of forming a thrombus that becomes embolic is called a thromboembolism. Often, the clots form in the legs, break free and travel to the lungs, where they can cause sudden death. An embolism that lodges in the lungs is a pulmonary embolism (PE), a very serious condition that can be fatal if not recognized and promptly treated. Pulmonary embolisms kill 60,000 people every year.
A deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot embedded in one of the major deep veins of the lower legs, thighs, or pelvis. A clot blocks blood circulation through these veins, which carry blood from the lower body back to the heart. The blockage can cause pain, swelling, or uncomfortable warmth.
 DVT affects about 2M people per year in the US alone. Most are 40 years or older. Some 200,000 patients die yearly from blood clots in their lung. Estimated risks. A recent research report provides estimates from researchers of the the absolute risk associated with symptomatic venous thrombosis after long distance travel.
Calculations show an incidence rate of 3.2/1,000 thromboses per year when exposed to long haul travel compared with 1.0/1,000 per year in individuals not exposed to air travel. This rate is equivalent to a risk of one event per 4,656 long-haul flights.
Research authors have found that the risk of thromboses increases with exposure to more flights within a short time frame and with increasing duration of flights. The most recent study was performed in a working population with a mean age of 40 years. The absolute risk of venous thrombosis in the general population is likely to be higher than the estimated risk. This knowledge is important so that travellers can accurately assess their risk and decide whether prophylactic measures against thromboses are worthwhile.
A detailed study now provides the first absolute estimate. The authors surveyed 8,755 employees of international companies collecting data on their travel and whether or not they developed thromboses (deep vein thromboses and pulmonary emboli) afterwards.
The employees were followed up for a total of 38,910 person-years, during 6,872 of which they were exposed to a long-haul flight. In the follow-up period, 53 thromboses occurred, 22 within 8 wk of a long-haul flight.
Researchers calculated that there was an incidence rate of 3.2/1,000 thromboses per year when exposed to long haul travel compared with 1.0/1,000 per year in individuals not exposed to air travel. This rate is equivalent to a risk of one event per 4,656 long-haul flights.
The risk of thromboses increased with exposure to more flights within a short time frame and with increasing duration of flights. The risk was particularly high in employees under age 30 years, women who used oral contraceptives, and individuals who were particularly short, tall, or overweight.
 The incidence of thromboses was highest in the first 2 weeks after travel and gradually decreased to baseline after 8 weeks. The authors note that this study was performed in a working population with a mean age of 40 years and go on to say that the absolute risk of venous thrombosis in the general population is likely to be higher than the estimated risk.
The authors conclude that the study results ". . . do not justify the use of potentially dangerous prophylaxis such as anticoagulant therapy for all long-haul air travellers, since this may do more harm than good. However, for some subgroups of people with a highly increased risk, the risk--benefit ratio may favour the use of prophylactic measures."
The absolute risk of venous thrombosis after air travel: A cohort study of 8,755 employees of international organisations. Kuipers S, Cannegieter SC, Middeldorp S, Robyn L, Buller HR, et al. (2007). PLoS Med 4(9): e290.
 The TS-Si News Service is a collaborative effort by TS-Si.org editors, contributors, and corresponding institutions. Sources can include the cited individuals and organizations, as well as TS-Si.org staff contributions. Articles and news reports do not necessarily convey official positions of TS-Si, its partners, or affiliates. We welcome your comments. Use the form below to leave a public comment or send private correspondence via the TS-Si Contact Page. We will not divulge any personal details or place you on a mailing list without your permission.TS-Si is dedicated to the acceptance, medical treatment, and legal protection of individuals correcting the misalignment of their brains and their anatomical sex, while supporting their transition into society as hormonally reconstituted and surgically corrected citizens.
Email this
Comments (0)
 Write comment
|
|||
| Last Updated on Thursday, 04 October 2007 03:20 |
The study was conducted by Frits Rosendaal and colleagues from the 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Show/hide comments
Show/hide comment form
The TS-Si News Service
and the TS-Si Research Service are collaborations of TS-Si officials, staff, contributors, and corresponding institutions. The contents do not necessarily convey official positions of TS-Si or its owners, participants, partners, or affiliates.