AORTIC-VALVE REPLACEMENT IN A UNITED-STATES-AIR-FORCE PILOT - CASE-REPORT AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

We report the first case of a United States Air Force pilot returned t o flying status after cardiac valve replacement. A 34-yr-old C-130 pil ot underwent placement of an aortic valve homograft as a result of an episode of acute bacterial endocarditis on a bicuspid aortic valve. Af ter a period of observation and a careful evaluation, he was returned to flying status in low-C aircraft. While cardiac valve replacement ha s traditionally been considered disqualifying for military aviation du ties, aortic valve homografts have been associated with a lower morbid ity and a significantly improved prognosis when compared to the other types of prosthetic heart valves. With careful evaluation and close fo llow-up, military aviators with aortic valve homografts can be conside red for return to flying duties in low-G aircraft.