THE SO-CALLED ECONOMY CLASS SYNDROME OR T RAVELERS THROMBOSIS

Thrombosis and pulmonary embolism associated with air travelling is kn own as <<economy class syndrome>>. However, as it is observed even usi ng other means of transportation, it can generally be described as <<t raveller's thrombosis>>. Our own observations include 5 patients with thrombo-embolic disease, which occurred after long-distance travel. In respect to the large number of travellers, the reported incidence of associated thrombosis seems to be remarkably low, and there is no epid emilogical evidence about travel and thromboembolic disease. On the ot her hand, retrospective analysis of patients with manifest thrombosis of any origin reveals in about 5% the circumstances of transportation as possible agent. Anyhow, according to literature the risk of thrombo sis could be regarded as quite low. Preventive action during long-dist ance travelling should be taken into considerations in patients with h igh risk of thromboembolism.