COG 23/10/17

PROFESSOR JOHN ROYLE OAM
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Our speaker last week was Professor John Royle OAM,
who gave a very technical and medical talk on DVT,
pulmonary embolism, after air travel. John comes with a
rich medical history.
This is a subject that can affect all people, particularly of
mature age, who make long air flights, which have now
become so popular, as extensive air travel and overseas
holidays, have become relatively cheaper.
Lack of mobility during these flights should be noted.
The simple way and solution is to wear knee stockings,
which compress the veins, and make the blood move
quicker; the slow blood is the cause of Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Where possible the passengers should undertake
basic exercises during the flight, i.e. stretching legs
and if possible, walking up the isles, i.e. officially to
the Toilet.
If landing at Airports en route, go for a brisk walk
around the public areas, and use the toilets.
Is there a lesson to be learnt, which may predispose
us to clots? We have hundreds of thousands of
people travelling long distances by bus and by car.
There is not an epidemic of DVT’s in them. The
most obvious difference is the degree of mobility, or
lack of mobility. However on a plane there is also
dehydration – the air circulated through the plane is
dry, and therefore every passenger is steadily dried
out.
The air breathed out is saturated with water vapour,
and the air breathed in has none. Alcohol, tea, and
coffee all tend to produce dehydration.
Dehydration, “thickens the blood”, and hence
causes the problems leading to DVT.
We note extreme notable cases in history of DVT,
e.g. Richard Nixon, former President of the United
States, who suffered badly following a flight from
Salzburg to Cairo and Moscow, and our own Austin
Doyle, from the Austin Hospital, who literally died,
when he reached New Zealand, from DVT.
Many Medical and Civil Authorities, and airports
throughout the world, e.g. Charles de Gaul in Paris
have undertaken extensive research into DVT, and it
is paying dividends.
We thank John Royle for his in depth talk to the
Club. Many of our members have travelled
extensively in recent times; hope this is a lesson to
all members, and their families of the Rotary Club of
Heidelberg, with its practical outcomes.
MAX CHESTER OAM,
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF JOHN ROYLE