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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Aviation medicine in the United Kingdom: early years, 1911-1918.

This is the first of three brief papers that summarize the history of aviation medicine in the Royal Air Force. Just as the generals and politicians were slow to appreciate the potential of the airplane, so the medical establishment was slow in understanding that the flight environment involved medical and physiological challenges. This note outlines the development of research to support British military aviators up to the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed2005

Involuntary eye responses as measures of fatigue in US Army Apache aviators.

INTRODUCTION: AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots fly the aircraft using a monocular helmet-mounted display that provides imagery from two separate forward-looking infrared sensors mounted on the nose of the aircraft. Studies have documented complaints of fatigue, headaches, and visual problems associated with the use of this sighting system. The goals of this study were: 1) to quantify possible flight-induced fatigue in Apache aviators; and 2) to evaluate minimally intrusive neurophysiologic measures of fatigue for potential use in operational environments. METHODS: Using a pre/post design, we assessed self-reported levels of alertness, physical, cognitive, and visual fatigue, and ocular indices of fatigue obtained using an instrument specifically designed to capture various eye responses. Data were contributed to this study by 53 aviators. RESULTS: Significant differences in all pre- and postflight ocular responses were observed. Pupil size and constriction latency increased while constriction amplitude and saccadic velocity decreased. Significant pre- and postflight differences were also seen on all self-report measures. Pilots reported being less alert and more fatigued following flight. CONCLUSIONS: We found that flight in an AH-64 Apache was a significant factor in producing changes in ocular and self-report measures similar to those produced by sleep loss.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Smoking cessation therapy and the return of aviators to flying duty.

Smoking cessation is an important part of every primary care physician's work. The importance of smoking cessation in the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and the reduction of cancer incidence cannot be overstated. Various treatments have been established to encourage smoking cessation; these include group and individual psychological therapy, nicotine replacement in various forms, and drug therapy. The best-known drug used for smoking cessation is bupropion SR (Zyban). Smoking in aviators is not different than in the general population in terms of prevalence. Thus it is important for flight surgeons worldwide to be familiar with the magnitude of the problem and the available treatment options. Yet, it is also important for this community to become familiar with the relevance of this treatment to aviation and to recognize the limitations pertinent to flying personnel who are attempting to quit smoking. We present treatment options for smoking cessations and their limitations on flying personnel.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1991

Markers for development of hypertension in commercial flight aviators.

In order to discover markers for the development of cardiovascular disease and hypertension, we studied systolic and diastolic blood pressure, ECG, and heart rate before, during and after exercise; body mass index (BMI); serum cholesterol; and smoking habits in 183 male aviators (mean age 41 years at commencement, and 55 at follow-up). Those developing cardiovascular disease had an overrepresentation of smokers but the disease could not be related to any other variable. By contrast we found the following independent markers for prediction of future hypertension in normotensive aviators: increased BMI, increased diastolic blood pressure at 50 W, low heart rate at maximal exercise and smoking. Of these markers high diastolic blood pressure and low heart rate during exercise are new. Subjects with initially elevated blood pressure who did not develop hypertension decreased their diastolic blood pressure after exercise in contrast to those developing hypertension.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1991

Operational medical support of an aviation brigade deployed during Operation Desert Shield.

This is a brief report on the medical support provided to an aviation brigade from September 1, 1990 to November 1, 1990, deployed during Operation Desert Shield. The aviation brigade consisted of 1,400 personnel including attachments. Medical support was provided by 3 physicians, a physician's assistant, and 24 enlisted personnel. Daily patient load was 2.5% of the unit strength.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

The new FAA national automated ECG network: some aviation medical examiner experiences.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has required, since August 1, 1987, that aviation medical examiners (AMEs) transmit by telephone all electrocardiograms (ECGs) necessary for airman "Class I" medical certification. This relatively new airman certification requirement is centralized at the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) in Oklahoma City. In calendar year 1989, the FAA received 69,000 electronically transmitted electrocardiograms. CAMI uses Marquette Electronics software to interpret the ECG signals that are received from multi-channel equipment. The single-channel transmitted ECGs are hand screened at present. The FAA "automated" screening program is unique among governmental airman medical certification programs throughout the world. This paper presents, for potential future users, the authors' experiences with the new airman automated electrocardiographic certification requirement, and covers positive and negative features involved in the implementation and operation of the program. We conclude that while the new FAA automated ECG screening program has satisfactorily replaced the former "physician-intensive" manual screening process, the new system increases the AME's equipment and operation costs. These are passed on to the airman who is seeking certification.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1991

Cases from the aerospace medicine residents' teaching file. Case #42. An aviator with concentration deficit, Lyme disease organic diagnostic evaluation, and a somatoform disorder.

An aviator with concentration deficit, Lyme disease organic diagnostic evaluation, and a somatoform disorder. The clinical presentation, evaluation and diagnosis of an aviator being evaluated for vague cognitive deficits of episodic and long duration with a history of rigid ideation concerning Lyme disease. The patient was diagnosed as having an atypical somatoform disorder. The aeromedical disposition of this patient is also presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Aviators intoxicated by inhalation of JP-5 fuel vapors.

This case of intoxication of two aviators by inhalation of JP-5 fuel vapors emphasizes a dangerous safety hazard. One or both aviators experienced burning eyes, nausea, fatigue, impairment of eye-hand coordination, euphoria, and memory defects when their cockpit became overwhelmed with the odor of JP-5 fuel. Physical and laboratory examinations were normal except for their ill appearance, conjunctivitis, and mild hypertension, which resolved without sequelae. Exposure to JP-5 fuel vapor occurs frequently, particularly after acrobatic flight in some aircraft. The neurologic effects and insidious nature of intoxication makes continued operation under such conditions extremely hazardous. The following is recommended: in the event the odor of JP-5 or any noxious or irritating substance is detected in the cockpit, serious consideration should be given to terminating the flight, using precautionary emergency landing procedures and 100% O2.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1989

Control of simulator sickness in an AH-64 aviator.

An active 33-year-old Army AH-64 aviator with simulator sickness refractory to routine preventive measures was successfully managed with transdermal scopolamine. Although adaptation is the ultimate means for control of simulator sickness, the use of anti-motion sickness medication, specifically transdermal scopolamine, may be a useful adjuvant in selected aviators.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of essential hypertension with yoga relaxation therapy in a USAF aviator: a case report.

A 46-year-old Caucasian male USAF aviator with a 6-year history of mild essential hypertension (medical waiver for flight duty) under unsuccessful treatment with hydrochlorothiazide, dietary modification, and exercise, was subsequently trained in yoga relaxation. After 6 weeks, medication had been discontinued, and his diastolic blood pressure remained within normal levels. The patient was subsequently returned to full flight status without recurrence of diastolic hypertension at followup 6 months later. Relaxation training, of which yoga is one type, has been reported in the medical literature to have wide clinical application. It should be considered as a nonpharmacological therapy adjunct or alternative for medical disorders among personnel in occupations (e.g., aviation) where the side effects from medications are of great concern and could be disqualifying from those duties.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1989

The highlights, and the lows, of aviation medicine in the 1940's: the human element.

This article describes the experience and knowledge gained by the author during an extensive study tour of the majority of aviation medicine centres in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States in 1942. The emphasis is upon the human element rather than the technical, and the contribution of thousands of scientists from medical, psychological, and allied disciplines whose dedication was vital to air supremacy. This required a symbiosis between them and aircraft engineers and, inter alia, courageous participation in operational missions or dangerous experiments. The price was, on occasion, tragedy. Individual instances are described, as are visits to operational air force squadrons. The tour concluded with a return to South Africa and the establishment of the first South African Aviation Medical Laboratory. In spite of the implementation of the knowledge gained during the tour, the laboratory was closed after the war.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1987

Grief in the grounded aviator.

Grounding aviators is an important and difficult aspect of being a flight surgeon. The psychological impact that grounding has on a flier may not only represent a serious pathological process in itself, but may also detrimentally affect the flight surgeon's relationships with other crewmembers. Grounding represents a loss to the aviator, the severity of which varies with pre-morbid motivation to fly. As a loss, grounding elicits grief; this must be dealt with effectively by the patient, with the help of the flight surgeon, or an unresolved grief reaction may cripple the ex-flier and hinder the flight surgeon's effectiveness.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1985

Intracardiac electrophysiologic studies in the medical evaluation of aviators.

Ten aviators with cardiac symptoms or electrocardiographic abnormalities underwent electrophysiologic testing. Four patients were studied because of symptoms including palpitations, nearsyncope, and sudden cardiac death. Six patients were studied because of electrocardiographic abnormalities including AV block, right bundle branch block, sinus bradycardia, ventricular tachycardia, and questionable Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Three patients with bradycardia and/or AV block were found to have increased vagal tone. A fourth patient had nearsyncope and intra-Hisian block. Of four patients evaluated for palpitations and/or tachycardias; one had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia; one had easily inducible ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation; one had a normal study, and one had coronary artery disease with an unanticipated prolonged HV interval. The diagnosis of congenital right bundle branch block and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were confirmed in the final two patents. Performance of electrophysiologic testing provided objective data to allow appropriate therapeutic and administrative decisions in these aviators.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Characteristics of the medical support for aviation and space flight].

Comparison of the specific features of the environment and human activities in aviation and space flights allows us to distinguish the major relations in the system man--vehicle--environment as related to their medical support. It is concluded that in the aviation flight the man-vehicle interaction plays the leading role while in the space flight the man-environment interaction comes to the foreground. Having in view these differences, medical and professional selection, prediction, medical monitoring and medical support of pilots and cosmonauts are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1978

Altitude tolerance of general aviation pilots with normal or partially impaired spirometric function.

The altitude tolerance of 10 spirometrically impaired (SI) general aviation pilots with an average forced midexpiratory flow (FEF25--75%) value of 65.1% was compared to that of 10 spirometrically normal (SN) pilots. Cardiorespiratory parameters assessed at ground level (GL) and at 8,000- and 12,500-ft altitudes were blood pressure, pulmonary ventilation, oxyhemoglobin saturation, temporal artery flow velocity, heart rate, and single-lead electrocardiogram. Although altitude exposure quantitatively displaced the SI group more than the SN group, the differences were not statistically significant at the probability level of 0.05. Unifocal premature ventricular contractions were present at GL in three of the pilots and showed no further changes at altitude. Therefore, the mean FEF25--75%, values of 65% of predicted normal for the SI group becomes a reasonable option as an objective screening norm for acceptable tolerance to general aviation altitudes in the ambient-air-breathing range.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1982

Functional optical invariants: a new methodology for aviation research.

The application to aviation psychology of Gibson's (4) "ecological approach to visual perception" demands information-rich visual displays to adequately and unambiguously enable a pilot to perform flight maneuvers. Optical information often takes the form of invariant properties of a changing optic array, and functional invariants are defined as psychologically effective optical invariants. Their effectiveness is determined by empirical test, but standard experimental paradigms are shown to be inappropriate for testing the effectiveness of information-rich displays. This is due to the presence of inherent and unavoidable confounding factors that are here termed "secondary independent variables" in contradistinction to the "primary independent variables" manipulated by the experimenter. Recommendations for a new methodology and statistical treatment are offered, and the implications for aviation psychology are discussed.

Aerospace Medicine↗