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Long-haul flight risk for serial clotter (DVT/PE) ?

I had my second DVT/PE earlier this year after a long-haul flight between Europe and the US (previous one was in 2007). It looks like I'll now be on Warfarin indefinitely as there is probably some genetic factor or other disorder which makes me a "serial clotter". Normally I travel between the US and Europe several times a year for business, but now I'm wondering what the risks are in continuing to do this ? The haematologist was very vague but advised against long-haul flights "if possible". Given that I'm on Warfarin and my INR is a steady 2.5 it seems to me that the risks should now be quite low, but I have no way of assessing this risk objectively. I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this or links to data on DVT risks for people already on Warfarin.

Update:

Thanks for the answers so far - I do appreciate them but I want to point out that as someone with a history of DVT/PE I've already been doing all the "right things" when flying - I wear compression socks, drink fluids, move around the plane regularly, do stretches, etc. Despite all this I still got bilateral DVT/PE after my last long-haul flight. I'm now on Warfarin (Coumadin) indefinitely and what I am really looking to find out is how that affects my risk factors for future flights. Am I relatively safe now that I am permanently on Warfarin or is there still a significant risk of DVT/PE ? Thanks in advance for any info/advice on the risks.

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Long flights cause a risk of DVT for anyone. The reason is that people will sit still for most of those hours and as the calf muscles are not flexing the valves in the veins do not get the force needed for strong return blood flow so blood can easily stagnate in the lower leg veins and allow clotting to occur. You can still take long flights but do prevention methods such as: get up and walk up and down the isle every couple of hours, or while sitting do flexing exercises by pointing toes sharply down towards floor then up towards your head, and wear compression stockings which help increase circulation back towards the trunk of the body. Your INR is in a good therapeutic range and your risk is indeed lowered, but highly recommend the previously mentioned preventative measures also be followed. Hope you have many safe flights and peace of mind.

    Source(s): Nurse
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    The only thing I would suggest is avoid any foods with vitamin K such as spinach, kale, and green tea as these thicken the blood. I think they have special compressor socks which keeps blood from pooling in the legs, you can get these at medical / orthopedic supply stores.

    You may also want to speak with a specialist at your anti-coagulant management service. Ask what your options are.

    Source(s): Recent DVT adventurer.
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