Prospective Comparative Cohort Study of Premium Versus Economy Cabin Travel and Popliteal Vein Diameter After Long-Haul Flight After an Aesthetic Surgery

NCT07810179 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 016
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This prospective cohort study will compare popliteal vein diameter changes in international travelers who independently fly to Bogota in premium business/first class or economy class. Standardized bilateral ultrasound will be performed before flight, within 2 hours after arrival, and at 24 and 48 hours. The primary outcome is the adjusted between-group difference in change from preflight diameter to arrival. Travel behavior and venous-risk confounders will be measured prospectively.

Conditions

Physiologic Venous Dilation; Air Travel

Keywords

Cabin Class; Business Class; First Class; Economy Class; Popliteal Vein; Duplex Ultrasound; Medical Tourism

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Between-Cabin Difference in Change in Mean Bilateral Popliteal Vein Diameter

  Difference between premium and economy groups in the participant-level change from preflight baseline to arrival. Diameter will be the mean of triplicate anteroposterior measurements in both legs and will be reported in millimeters.

  Within 24 hours before departure and within 2 hours after arrival at the study site. 3 days

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Incidental Venous Thrombosis or Abnormal Compressibility

  From preflight baseline through 48 hours after arrival. 3 days

Study Arms (2)

Premium Cabin Travelers

Participants who independently booked and completed the qualifying itinerary in business or first class.

Other: Premium Cabin Air Travel Exposure; Diagnostic Test: Standardized Bilateral Popliteal Vein Ultrasound

Economy Cabin Travelers

Participants who independently booked and completed the qualifying itinerary in economy or basic economy class.

Other: Economy Cabin Air Travel Exposure; Diagnostic Test: Standardized Bilateral Popliteal Vein Ultrasound

Interventions

Premium Cabin Air Travel Exposure OTHER

Preexisting travel exposure defined by the cabin actually flown. Seat pitch, recline, lie-flat capability, aisle/window position, and ambulation opportunities will be recorded. Linked arm/group(s): Premium Cabin Travelers.

Premium Cabin Travelers

Economy Cabin Air Travel Exposure OTHER

Preexisting economy-cabin exposure with documentation of seat characteristics, position, movement, hydration, and other travel behaviors. Linked arm/group(s): Economy Cabin Travelers.

Economy Cabin Travelers

Standardized Bilateral Popliteal Vein Ultrasound DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Triplicate anteroposterior and transverse diameter and cross-sectional-area measurements in both legs after a standardized resting period, with compressibility and flow assessment. Linked arm/group(s): Premium Cabin Travelers, Economy Cabin Travelers.

Economy Cabin Travelers; Premium Cabin Travelers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult international medical travelers with prebooked premium business/first-class or economy-class itineraries of at least 4 hours.

You may qualify if:

• Age 18 to 65 years.
• Commercial flight to Bogota with at least 4 hours of total airborne time.
• Prebooked premium business/first-class or economy-class seat documented before enrollment.
• Standardized preflight ultrasound within 24 hours before departure.
• Arrival, 24-hour, and 48-hour ultrasound completed before surgery.
• Written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Current or prior unprovoked deep venous thrombosis requiring therapeutic anticoagulation.
• Therapeutic anticoagulation during the study window.
• Current pregnancy.
• Lower-extremity condition preventing standardized bilateral popliteal ultrasound.
• Surgery, prolonged immobilization, or major intravenous fluid administration before completion of the 48-hour scan.
• Use of cabin upgrade after baseline or inability to verify the actual cabin flown.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Research Inc: lead

Study Sites (1)

Clinica INO

Bogotá, Colombia

RECRUITING

Related Publications (2)

• Ramirez B, Aguilar H, Stanford N, Paez Z, Menendez JP, Pachon J, Osorio E, Varela A. Aesthetic Surgical Tourism: Physiological Changes During Flight That May Affect Patient Safety and Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2026 May 8;14(5):e7568. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000007568. eCollection 2026 May.

  PMID: 42110381 BACKGROUND

• Hoyos AE, Ramirez B, Benavides J, Perez Pachon ME, Varela A. Aeromedical Considerations for Patient Safety in Aesthetic Medical Tourism. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024 Oct;95(10):765-770. doi: 10.3357/AMHP.6432.2024.

  PMID: 39431700 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Hugo Aguilar

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Hugo Aguilar, MD, Plastic surgeon

CONTACT

+57 301 6918526; havplasticacademy@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 1 Month
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2026
• First Posted: September 9, 2026
• Study Start: January 12, 2024
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: September 9, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CO (1)