Should airline pilots be eligible to resume active flight status after coronary bypass surgery?: a CASS registry study

Coronary Artery Disease Evaluation and Management Considerations for High Risk Occupations: Commercial Vehicle Drivers and Pilots

Optimal treatment of stable ischemic heart disease for those in the transportation industry is considered in the context of the individual's health, as well as with the perspective that sudden impairment could have catastrophic consequences for others. This article focuses on two high risk occupations that one may encounter in practice: commercial motor vehicle drivers and commercial pilots. This article discusses coronary heart disease in patients in high risk occupations and covers current guideline recommendations for screening, treatment, and secondary prevention. The importance of the complimentary perspectives of the regulatory agency, medical examiners, physicians, and pilot or driver are considered in this narrative review, as are considerations for future guideline updates.

Management of established coronary artery disease in aircrew with previous myocardial infarction or revascularisation

This manuscript focuses on the broad aviation medicine considerations that are required to optimally manage aircrew with established coronary artery disease (CAD) without myocardial infarction (MI) or revascularisation (both pilots and non-pilot aviation professionals). It presents expert consensus opinion and associated recommendations and is part of a series of expert consensus documents covering all aspects of aviation cardiology.Aircrew may present with MI (both ST elevation MI (STEMI) and non-ST elevation MI (NSTEMI)) as the initial presenting symptom of obstructive CAD requiring revascularisation. Management of these individuals should be conducted according to published guidelines, ideally with consultation between the cardiologist, surgeon and aviation medical examiner. Return to restricted flight duties is possible in the majority of aircrew; however, they must have normal cardiac function, acceptable residual disease burden and no residual ischaemia. They must also be treated with aggressive cardiac risk factor modification. Aircrew should be restricted to dual pilot operations in non-high-performance aircraft, with return to flying no sooner than 6 months after the event. At minimum, annual follow-up with routine non-invasive cardiac evaluation is recommended.

Return to flight status after cardiac rehabilitation: three case histories

A pilot's license to operate aircraft is not valid unless it is accompanied by a medical certificate. This certificate is revoked if a pilot is diagnosed with a cardiovascular illness. After a lengthy waiting period, the medical certificate may be reinstated if the pilot meets rigid standards. For many pilots, participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program is essential to achieve the minimal functional capacity in exercise testing (10.0 metabolic equivalents), document tolerance of medications, and achieve successful rehabilitation. Our staff has assisted 11 pilots in their quest to resume commercial or recreational flying after heart surgery, pacemaker implantation, or angioplasty. This article summarizes the case histories of three pilots who returned to fight status, in three Federal Aviation Administration categories (FAA), after a cardiac illness. The principle goals of our rehabilitation program for pilots are: (1) to achieve the highest possible outcome of the rehabilitation process; (2) to establish a safe and effective independent exercise program; (3) to obtain measures of compliance and success with the independent exercise program; (4) to document tolerance of medications and ensure that medications are acceptable to the FAA; (5) to document stability of the serum glucose in diabetic patients engaged in rigorous, prolonged exercise; and (6) prepare the patient for performance of a treadmill test in which 100% predicted maximum heart rate is achieved without symptoms of cardiovascular distress. An inherent effect of pursuing these goals is dramatic risk factor modification including improved blood pressure and lipid status and reduced body mass index. After resumption of flying, none of our pilot-patients have experienced cardiac symptoms during flight, nor have they required emergency department visits or hospitalization for any reason.