Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2012 Apr;55(2):125-31.
doi: 10.1503/cjs.024610.

Prophylactic surgery prior to extended-duration space flight: is the benefit worth the risk?

Chad G Ball  1 , Andrew W Kirkpatrick, David R Williams, Jeffrey A Jones, J D Polk, James M Vanderploeg, Mark A Talamini, Mark R Campbell, Timothy J Broderick
Affiliations
Review

Prophylactic surgery prior to extended-duration space flight: is the benefit worth the risk?

Chad G Ball et al. Can J Surg. 2012 Apr.

Abstract
in English, French

This article explores the potential benefits and defined risks associated with prophylactic surgical procedures for astronauts before extended-duration space flight. This includes, but is not limited to, appendectomy and cholecystesctomy. Furthermore, discussion of treatment during space flight, potential impact of an acute illness on a defined mission and the ethical issues surrounding this concept are debated in detail.

Cet article explore les avantages possibles et les risques définis associés à des interventions chirurgicales prophylactiques (notamment appendicectomie et cholécystectomie) chez les astronautes devant effectuer des séjours prolongés dans l’espace. Le traitement pendant le séjour dans l’espace, les répercussions éventuelles d’une maladie grave au cours d’une mission particulière et les enjeux éthiques entourant la question y sont débattus en profondeur.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Hamilton D, Smart K, Melton S, et al. Autonomous medical care for exploration class space missions. J Trauma. 2008;64:S354–63. - PubMed
    1. Stewart LH, Trunkey D, Rebagliati GS. Emergency medicine in space. J Emerg Med. 2007;32:45–54. - PubMed
    1. Norfleet WT. Anesthetic concerns of spaceflight. Anesthesiology. 2000;92:1219–22. - PubMed
    1. Campbell MR, Johnson SL, Mashburn T, et al. Nonoperative treatment of suspected appendicitis in remote medical care environments: Implications for future spaceflight medical care. J Am Coll Surg. 2004;198:822–30. - PubMed
    1. Billica RD, Pool SL, Nicogossian AE. Crew health care programs. In: Nicogossian AE, editor. Space physiology and medicine. Philadelphia (PA): Williams & Wilkins; 1994. pp. 402–23.

MeSH terms