Is air travel safe for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices?

ABSTRACT

Parallel to the rapid expansion of air travel services and advances in medical technology, more passengers with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) fly each year. In general, commercial airline flights are considered safe for patients with CIEDs; nevertheless, some specific precautions should be undertaken in some certain circumstances. Apart from the risk of a minor and overlooked pneumothorax early after implantation of a CIED, which may be aggravated due to sudden pressure changes during flight, electromagnetic interference, cosmic radiation and vibration are the other risks a patient with a CIED may encounter during air travel, nevertheless, these are rare and often do not bring about significant clinical consequences.