How long should a patient wait to fly again after complete relief of symptoms?

The recommended wait time for a patient to fly after complete relief of symptoms related to decompression sickness or other hyperbaric conditions is 72 hours. This duration ensures that the body has had adequate time to fully eliminate any residual nitrogen bubbles that could potentially cause further complications during flight.

Flying involves exposure to lower atmospheric pressure, which can increase the risk of re-emergence of decompression sickness symptoms if nitrogen is still present in the body. This waiting period allows for physiological processes to stabilize and decreases the chance of any complications that might arise from these residual gases during flight.

The other options either suggest shorter intervals, which do not allow for sufficient recovery time necessary in these cases, or a much longer period that exceeds what is typically advised for safe air travel following such medical issues.