Can You Fly After Lobectomy?

If you had your entire lung removed, you may fly only after the surgical side is filled with fluid; this is determined at the office visit when we review your chest x-ray.

How soon can I fly after a lobectomy?

This is because you might have air trapped in your body. When you fly, the air can expand and cause an increase in pressure inside your body. You'll be able to fly once the air has been reabsorbed, normally after 7 to 10 days. You might be able to fly sooner than this if you had keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery.

How soon after lung surgery can you fly?

The Aerospace Medicine Association recommendations currently state that, “Generally, it should be safe to travel by air 2 or 3 weeks after successful drainage of a pneumothorax (or uncomplicated thoracic surgery)” (1).