Head-up Tilt Test May Be Useful for Determining Permission of Flight for Regular Passenger Aircraft Pilots with Vasovagal Syncope

抄録

To determine the permissibility of piloting an aircraft with vasovagal syncope （VVS） is a complex responsibility, because it is difficult to evaluate VVS quantitatively. There are no clear guidelines for aircraft pilots with VVS. In some facilities, Head-up Tilt Test （HUTT） is used to determine its reproducibility and treatment effect. In most cases, permission is dependent on the strict examinations by specialists and judgement of the committee established for each country. Therefore, we assessed pilots with VVS and designed an algorism of permission for piloting an aircraft. Here, we describe 7 consecutive regular passenger aircraft pilots with VVS who were restricted to fly. All patients were men and their mean age was 37 years. All pilots were permitted to fly after at least two or more tilt-tests. The observation period was two years after flight permission. None of the pilots in the present study fainted after receiving flight permission. We can make a risk stratification to determine hypotensive susceptibility by multiple tilt tests. Based on the results of multiple HUTT, we can more quantitatively make the judgement as to whether the pilot’s VVS is well managed.