[Which cardiac patients may be allowed to travel by air?].

During airline flights, cardiological patients in particular are put at stress by the decrease in pressure in the passenger cabin and the associated decrease in oxygen partial pressure in the blood. Possible risks are, in particular, rhythm disorders, myocardial ischemic states or an excessive increase in pulmonary artery pressure. Flight travel may be permitted at the earliest two weeks after a myocardial infarction or coronary event. It should be forbidden in patients with decompensated cardiac failure, instable angina pectoris, severe pulmonary arterial or arterial hypertension, uncontrolled arrhythmias and surgery on the heart within a period of 2 weeks prior to the intended flight.