Socks can stop clots: doctor

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

A British vascular surgeon who has spent 18 months researching the potentially fatal economy class syndrome says it is not necessary for passengers to walk around the aircraft to try to prevent the condition.

Dr John Scurr will shortly publish his research into the condition, also called deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in the British medical journal Lancet.

He believes he can show a definite link between the condition, which causes blood clots in the leg, and long-haul flights.

This week, transtasman flight attendants reported a surge of passengers walking around the aircraft to try to prevent economy class syndrome - which in single-aisle aircraft can cause congestion.

But Dr Scurr said exercising while sitting and increasing the flow of blood through the legs by wearing elastic stockings were also worthwhile methods of stopping clots forming.

"It is not necessary to get up and walk around the aeroplane."

Dr Scurr also responded to Air New Zealand's claim that it had carried tens of millions of passengers without any deaths from economy class syndrome.

"There is no court case that has been brought against us, or any other airline, that's been successful," said spokesman Alastair Carthew.

"Nobody, as far as I am aware, has died on any of our flights. Some people may have had symptoms after they have got off our flights. That would have to be looked into."

But Dr Scurr said: "I am not surprised Air New Zealand has been unaware of problems on international flights. They are, of course, correct: the problems usually occur after the passenger gets off the plane.

"The problem, however, starts whilst on the plane and if they continue with this attitude they are undoubtedly exposing themselves to a very serious risk of litigation."

Yesterday, Mr Carthew clarified his original statement and said: "Air New Zealand does not have a specific record of anyone dying on one of our flights as a direct result of DVT."

Economy class syndrome has received widespread publicity in recent months since a 28-year-old British woman collapsed and died soon after flying from Sydney to London.

About 1000 people, including 11 New Zealanders, are suing airlines over DVT.