After reviewing literature on heart patients traveling by airplane, authors discuss effects of air travel and security devices on pacemakers and implantable automatic defibrillators; preflight screening; and in-flight venous thrombosis. They make recommendations on safe air travel after heart attacks and prevention of in-flight deep venous thrombosis.

Authors also present a nine-item pretravel checklist for patients with cardiovascular disease.

2. Long-term antibiotic doesn't ease gulf war illnesses

A 12-month course of the broad-spectrum antibiotic doxycycline did not improve symptoms of Gulf War veterans' illnesses (GWVI), a new study found (Article, p. 85). The researchers did the study because of speculation that infection with Mycoplasma (a form of bacteria) caused Gulf War illness.

Researchers randomized 491 deployed Gulf War veterans with GWVI and antibodies indicating current or past infection with Mycoplasma to take doxycycline or a placebo (dummy pill). The group taking doxycycline did no better than the group taking the placebo in physical or mental function, or in pain or fatigue, at 12- and 18-month checkups.

An editorial writer says that it "was never very likely that Mycoplasma infection accounted for the Gulf War health effect," but "increasing numbers of U.S. veterans were beginning long-term, potentially hazardous antibiotic treatment" (Editorial, p. 155). This study, the writer says, shows unequivocally that doxycycline "has no effect on the health of symptomatic Gulf War veterans."

3. Does a living will affect chance of not dying in a hospital?

A study of data on 539 elderly people who died in the United States between 1993 and 1995 found that 40 percent had living wills (Article, p. 113). People with living wills were more likely to die at home or in a nursing h
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Contact: Susan Anderson
sanderson@acponline.org
215-351-2653
American College of Physicians
19-Jul-2004