How soon after an elective, uncomplicated coronary intervention would you feel comfortable having a patient travel by air?

Usually, 3-5 days after uncomplicated PCI. But in the era of transradial and 5-fr sheaths, and in the absence of Sx, with preserved LV EF, this may be truncated to 48 hours.

As noted, there is limited objective data regarding flying and CV conditions in general, and essentially none for the post-PCI patient. I do not have a blanket policy.

I try to integrate the patient risks of flying early post-PCI, which are:

1. vascular access issues,
2. risk of venous thrombogenicity,
3. impact of hypobaric conditions on myocardial function, and
4. arrhythmias.

This is all a case-by-case decision and includes understanding the form of travel—car, private plane vs. commercial aircraft—and the duration of travel.

I will allow patients with radial access or satisfactory large vessel closure, no prior DVT and no LE venous access, LVEF >40%, and no arrhythmias to fly the next day.

If they have had complicated procedures, significant un-...

This question comes up quite often from patients, along with "Can I still go on my cruise next week that I booked last year?". The lack of guidelines leaves it to a case-by-case discussion. In the past, I considered this topic to include timely access to a primary PCI hospital in the case of acute stent occlusion or other similar complications and the impact of air travel (pressurized cabin, mild hypoxemia) on a patient who is recently post PCI. The former consideration is no longer much of a concern with the current generation stents, the use of imaging, and current PCI techniques. The latter consideration probably doesn't have much of an impact on a patient having "elective, uncomplicated PCI".

The lack of clear objective data makes the topic of recommendations regarding time to travel post PCI a person-to-person decision. I agree with most opinions that if the patient had an uncomplicated PCI, preserved EF, and no symptoms… I do not restrict travel. I do advise the avoidance of travel to remote locations for the immediate post-intervention, but certainly no limitation after 1 week.