In such cases, flying is usually safe. However, if symptoms persist or worsen, or if there is a skull fracture or brain bleeding, flying should be avoided because it may result in a hemorrhagic stroke or brain cell death.
Recent head injury
“If a head injury's been severe enough to cause bleeding on the brain, it's advisable not to fly unless this has stabilised.
Studies have shown that there is a significant decrease in an individual's partial pressure and oxygen when flying, which is of particular concern after a brain injury. When pressure changes lead to decreased oxygen in a brain injury survivor, it can alter or worsen the effects of the brain injury.
Try to make time every day to completely rest your brain from any kind of distraction, such as the radio or television. Speak to your specialist for advice before driving, flying or returning to sport as sometimes these can be dangerous while recovering from a subdural haematoma.
It is not recommended to fly with acute intracranial hypertension because the conditions in the plane can worsen your condition and cause excruciating pain. If you have chronic or benign intracranial hypertension, you might be able to fly if your condition is under control.
Recovery after an intracranial hematoma can take a long time, and you might not recover completely. The greatest period of recovery is up to three months after the injury, usually with lesser improvement after that.
Can You Fly with a Hematoma or Ecchymosis? Flying may increase the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism or DVT (deep vein thrombosois). Some doctors suggest you wait about 4 weeks after a hematoma or ecchymosis resolves to resume flying.
However, for a person with cerebral oedema, the decreased air pressure in the plane, relative to the higher air pressure at which the oedema developed, can be devastating, even if it is only a slight decrease.
A rare type of stroke can occur as a result of long airplane flights, according to a study in the June 24 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The type of stroke can occur in people who have a patent foramen ovale, or an opening between two chambers in the heart.
Subdural and extradural haemorrhages are the most common type after TBI, and they are a cause of further brain damage that can lead to more long-term effects.
Dr. Wiles: Recovery is very dependent on location of the bleeding within the brain, the size of the bleeding and the general health of the patient prior to the stroke. Some recovery can be a matter of a few days, and others can take months. In general, healing of the complex function of the brain can be a slow process.
Bleeding in the brain or brain hemorrhage can be life-threatening, with an estimated 5-year survival rate of about 26.7%. The prognosis depends on the location and severity of the bleeding and the amount of swelling that result from the bleeding.
Brain bleed symptoms may include: Sudden or severe headache. Weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs (often on one side) Nausea or vomiting.
Brain haemorrhages – or haemorrhagic strokes – are caused by bleeding in and around the brain. They are generally more severe than strokes caused by a blockage. Around one third of patients don't survive longer than a month, and many who do survive are left with lifelong disabilities.
Left untreated, a subarachnoid hemorrhage can lead to unconsciousness and life-threatening complications such as an irregular heartbeat and respiratory arrest.
Although a brain bleed can be fatal, recovery is possible. A person may also experience long-term complications, such as epilepsy, or memory problems.
In general, symptoms of brain bleeds can include: Sudden tingling, weakness, numbness, or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, particularly on one side of the body. Headache. (Sudden, severe “thunderclap” headache occurs with subarachnoid hemorrhage.)
Many hemorrhages do not need treatment and go away on their own. If a patient is exhibiting symptoms or has just had a brain injury, a medical professional may order a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check for brain hemorrhages.
Most people with high blood pressure can fly, but it is a good idea to consult their doctor before traveling. They may have to carry their medication and prescription during their travels and move around as much as possible during the flight to reduce the risk of blood clotting.
Raised intracranial pressure has been noted in severe forms of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral oedema, but the role of intracranial pressure in the pathogenesis of mild to moderate acute mountain sickness is unknown.