By Lt. Jared Harwood, MC and Capt. Joseph Lavan, MC
Rapid Medical Response Keeps Carrier Aviator Flying
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t was a night like any other in Main Medical aboard USS George Washington (CVN-73) when shipboard, air wing, undersea medical and flight surgeons were called to action to provide urgent state of the art medical care to underway operational forces. In the midst of flight operations, Main Medical was notified that a pilot currently in the air was having difficulty speaking and may require aid. After being guided aboard the carrier by a wingman and Landing Signal Of-
ficer, the 33 year-old male F/A-18C pilot was conversant, ambulatory, and was escorted to Main Medical. An assessment was conducted and it was found that he had been performing a routine intercept mission at an altitude of 30,000 feet when he noticed a sudden surge of air in the cockpit and “popping” in his ears. Within seconds he started experiencing tingling in his extremities, difficulty concentrating and an inability to speak coherently. Attributing these symptoms to hypoxia
during his flight, the pilot activated his emergency oxygen system and descended to 20,000 feet and then to 8,000 feet where his symptoms persisted. At 8,000 feet the pilot confirmed his cabin pressure was 4,000 feet (appropriate for that altitude). Throughout the medical assessment, the pilot turned patient complained of persistent “grogginess” and mental slowness, but was ambulating and talking. The patient did note that his
PACIFIC OCEAN - Sailors fight a simulated fire on the nose of an F/A-18F Super Hornet during a mass casualty drill aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). George Washington, the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, is underway helping to ensure security and stability in the western Pacific Ocean. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David A. Cox.
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NAVY MEDICINE