Fainting causes in-flight emergencies

Fainting and stomach problems are the most common medical emergencies on commercial flights, according to a new analysis.

Heart problems are the most common serious illness while surgical problems and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are quite rare, researchers found.

The study, reported in the journal Critical Care, found that DVT accounted for one in 200 medical emergencies and appendicitis for one in 400.

Researchers from the University of Bochum, Germany, and the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, analysed more than 10,000 in-flight emergencies.

There were two births and 52 deaths reported.

The researchers said there were major problems in the reporting of in-flight emergencies. Just two out of 32 airlines were able to help the study.

Researcher Michael Sand said: "Considering the fact that cardiac conditions were the third most common condition seen in this study, patients with cardiac irregularities may profit from an on-board automatic external defibrillator. The same is true for patients with a suspected myocardial infarction."

Surgical and medical emergencies on board European aircraft: a retrospective study of 10189 cases; Michael Sand, Falk G Bechara, Daniel Sand and Benno Mann Critical Care 2009, 13:R3 doi:10.1186/cc7690