The plane trip after a surgery depend on the type of surgery and anesthesia done. In general, one should wait at least 2 weeks. Surgeries done with general anesthesia have no additional concerns, surgeries done with spinal or epidural anesthesia should be waited for at least 7 days. In simpler surgeries, laparoscopy and colonoscopy the trip can be after 2 days. Another examples:
- Retinal displacement: between 2 and 6 weeks after, depending on the type of gas used;
- Facial or nasal surgery: 1 to 2 weeks;
- Neurosurgery: at least 1 week and with medical authorization to improve intracranial pressure;
- Abdominal Surgery: 1 to 2 weeks after surgery;
- Chest drainage: 2 to 3 weeks with confirmation that there are no more fluids in the lung protection cavity;
The patient should wait to travel by plane because, after surgery, air bubbles remain in the cavities, which may increase in volume with low atmospheric pressure during flight. Low pressures cause gas to expand, including body gases.
In the case of abdominal surgeries, for example, the expansion of the intestinal gases can cause rupture of sutures, bleeding and perforation. Interventions in the stomach and intestines can also make these organs more painful as air expands.
If you are traveling by plane after surgery, talk to the surgeon / a to guide the steps that must be taken and avoid complications.
