Air travel during pregnancy: An update review and practical recommendation

Abstract

Objective: Nowadays it is easier for pregnant women to travel abroad. The purpose of this review is to insure that healthcare providers advise pregnant women of the risks to travel by airplane. Materials and Methods: The authors provide an overview of the risks of thrombosis in pregnancy to travel by airplane and the risks of miscarriage and preterm labor. This study is based on electronic literature using the best available evidence from PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), and the British Thoracic Society (BTS). Results: In the lack of evidence-based information, physicians and pregnant women should only rely on guidelines and experts' opinions. Conclusions: In the absence of a reasonable expectation for obstetric or medical complications, occasional air travel is safe in pregnancy. The specific airline recommendations should be always kept in mind.