Am I grounded?

[Unregistered]

I just went in for my annual physical with my G.P. who is also a cardiac specialist. He does a treadmill "stress test" which includes an EKG.

After the test is complete, he says there is a "change" from previous years EKG.

He wants to do an angiogram, as he put it: "just to make sure every thing is OK". That's OK with me, since the test is the gold standard for blockages, etc.

Since no actual diagnosis of a problem has been made, am I required to ground myself pending the outcome of this test (in about two weeks)?

 

[poadeleted20]

Since no actual diagnosis of a problem has been made, am I required to ground myself pending the outcome of this test (in about two weeks)?

You'd need to discuss this with an Aviation Medical Examiner. The exact wording of the relevent section of the rule is "...a person who holds a current medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person ... Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation..." (14 CFR 61.53(a), emphasis added).

The question at issue is whether you "ha[ve] reason to know" that you have something wrong which would make you unable to meet the medical standards, and without discussing that with a doctor who knows the standards, you can't be sure of the answer. Fortunately, Dr. Bruce can probably give you some help on this one when he wakes up and logs on (he's a time zone west of me). You might also ask the doctor who gave you the test whether he recommends any restrictions on your life activities pending the angiogram -- if not, you should be good to fly.

 

[bbchien]

"...a person who holds a current medical certificate issued under part 67 of this chapter shall not act as pilot in command, or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crewmember, while that person ... Knows or has reason to know of any medical condition that would make the person unable to meet the requirements for the medical certificate necessary for the pilot operation..." (14 CFR 61.53(a), emphasis added).
Fortunately, Dr. Bruce can probably give you some help on this one when he wakes up and logs on (he's a time zone west of me). You might also ask the doctor who gave you the test whether he recommends any restrictions on your life activities pending the angiogram -- if not, you should be good to fly.

"I'm awake, I'm awake!!!" Actually just got done with five cases.

It depends on what the change is. If it's loss of an "r" wave in the front leads of the EKG, you probably should self ground. If it's a minor conduction change, the Framingham study would suggest you have no change in risk. You are in a self ground period, and are to act on your best judgement and sound medical advice.

If you can get the tracings, email them to me....I'll be able to tell you a lot more. But you should ask the cardiologist, "Am I an immediate risk to fly, based on what you know?". Coronary Artery Disease is grounding, but from how you relate it, it doesn't appear that this diagnosis is made as of this time.