Central Hypoventilation: A Case Study of Issues Associated with Travel Medicine and Respiratory Infection

Abstract EN

Aim.

We presented the case of a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (CHS) to highlight issues that need to be considered in planning long-haul flight and problems that may arise during the flight.

Case.

The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) received a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine’s curse) on nocturnal ventilatory support who travelled to Hong Kong on a make-a-wish journey.

He was diagnosed with central hypoventilation and had been well managed in Canada.

During a long-haul aviation travel, he developed respiratory symptoms and desaturations.

The child arrived in Hong Kong and his respiratory symptoms persisted.

He was taken to a PICU for management.

The child remained well and investigations revealed no pathogen to account for his respiratory infection.

He went on with his make-a-wish journey.

Conclusions.

Various issues of travel medicine such as equipment, airline arrangement, in-flight ventilatory support, travel insurance, and respiratory infection are explored and discussed.

This case illustrates that long-haul air travel is possible for children with respiratory compromise if anticipatory preparation is timely arranged.