Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Commercial air travel exposes passengers to reduced cabin pressures, causing intrathoracic gas volume to expand (Boyle's law). Guidelines recommend waiting 7-14 days after radiographic resolution of a pneumothorax before flying; however, such recommendations may not reflect emerging evidence for select cases. We report a case of a healthy 51-year-old man with a small (< 10%) traumatic pneumothorax who flew domestically and internationally within 4 and 9 days of diagnosis against medical advice. He remained asymptomatic, with serial chest X-rays indicating stability and eventual resolution of the pneumothorax. The patient demonstrated clinical and radiographic stability despite commercial cabin pressure changes and high-altitude activity. The presented case supports and extends a growing body of research, suggesting that patients with normal oxygen saturation on room air may safely tolerate air travel with a small, stable, traumatic pneumothorax. This case highlights the potential need for individualised risk assessment when advising travel delays.
Source: Respirology Case Reports
DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.70516
Institution: The University of Sydney
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,130
Funder: University of Sydney
OpenAlex ID: W7129336158