J Trauma
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
The effects of inflation of antishock trousers on hemodynamics in normovolemic subjects.
Antishock trousers may maintain mean arterial pressure in trauma patients by increasing central blood volume and cardiac output. Hemodynamics, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, and blood pressure were recorded in eight supine, healthy men in antishock trousers using two-dimensional echocardiography. Two inflation protocols were used. ⋯ The study shows that the antishock trousers alter several hemodynamic parameters. With lower inflation pressures, antishock trousers cause an increase in arterial pressure by increasing peripheral resistance. At higher inflation pressures, the antishock trousers increase cardiac output and as the cardiovascular system adjusts, maintain the pressure by increasing peripheral resistance.