Myocarditis/Pericarditis

FlySmiley

FlySmiley

New Member
My very close friend woke up on Thursday morning with severe pain in his chest and left arm. He is a 27 year old very healthy male. Fearing the worst his girlfriend gave him an aspirin and sent him to the ER. After an EKG, echocardiogram, angiogram, and MRI he was diagnosed with myocarditis and pericarditis. Treatment included mostly beta blockers and anti-inflammatory meds and he was discharged after four days but needs to continue taking the meds at least until his follow up visit in two weeks with the cardiologist. He is a pilot at a regional airline with a current first class medical certificate. According to the AME guide available on the FAA's website myocarditis/pericarditis is a condition that requires either denial of the medical certificate or deferral to the FAA for further consideration.

1) As of right now is my friend able to continue flying (assuming the prescriptions are FAA ok'd), or is he required to stop exercising the privileges of his medical certificate? In other words should he be taking medical leave?

2) Is there a legal requirement to inform the FAA or visit with an AME about this?

3) If he is required to cease flying for the time being, what does the evaluation/re-instatement process consist of?

4) Will this be cause for re-certification problems in the future?

5) Questions that I have not thought to ask?

Thank you!
 
1) No he is not. He is required to self-ground until the issue is resolved by the FAA. http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/tex...v8&view=text&node=14:2.0.1.1.2.1.1.32&idno=14

2) Not until either the next medical exam or he submits his medical documentation to have the FAA clear him to fly.

3) A cardiovascular evaluation and ALL of the relate dmedical records. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/dec_cons/disease_prot/cardiovascular/.
They will want to see the echocardiogram films (on CD usually).

4) They may grant the medical with no problems or they may grant a Special Issuance certificate and require annual cardiovascular evaluations and echo cardiograms. It will depend on what is in the medical records.

Remember, once the cardiologist clears you medically, he must send this info to the FAA in OKC or to his Regional Flight Surgeon's office http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/rfs/.
It will take 8-10 weeks to get an answer.
 
Thank you very much for the quick response. That is a real bummer since it will take him out of flying for at least 3 months from the sounds of it. As a follow up question, is the cardiovascular evaluation required to be completed by an AME, or is it typically done by a normal cardiologist? Thanks again, you do an awesome job!
 
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