摘要
Aeromedical history was made over the Himalayas on May 23, 1995, when a female passenger on British Airways developed acute respiratory distress with cyanosis. Two British physicians on board diagnosed a tension pneumothorax and, with impressive ingenuity, used a scalpel, a fork and knife, a wire coat hanger, a urinary catheter, Courvoiser brandy, and a bottle of Evian water to successfully perform a chest tube thoracostomy. This lifesaving intervention received international attention, and travelers around the world asked what resources would be available to them if they were in the same situation.It is predictable that the number of aeromedical emergencies will increase as the number of passengers, especially those with underlying disease, travel by air. Morbidity and mortality could potentially be reduced by identifying passengers at risk and providing them with proper counseling and preventive interventions before travel. This article reviews the epidemiology of aeromedical emergencies, the medical supplies available on various commercial airlines, and management options for specific disorders.