Aerospace medicine and human performance
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Aerosp Med Hum Perform · Apr 2015
Case ReportsTolerance of centrifuge-simulated suborbital spaceflight in subjects with implanted insulin pumps.
With commercial spaceflight comes the possibility of spaceflight participants (SFPs) with significant medical conditions. Those with previously untested medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and the use of indwelling medical devices, represent a unique challenge. It is unclear how SFPs with such devices will react to the stresses of spaceflight. This case report describes two subjects with Type I DM using insulin pumps who underwent simulated dynamic phases of spaceflight via centrifuge G force exposure. ⋯ Potential risks to SFPs with insulin pump dependent DM include hypo/hyperglycemia, pump damage, neurovestibular dysfunction, skin breakdown, and abnormal stress responses. A search of prior literature did not reveal any previous studies of individuals with DM on insulin pumps exposed to prolonged accelerations. These cases suggest that individuals with conditions dependent on continuous medication delivery might tolerate the accelerations anticipated for commercial spaceflight.
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Aerosp Med Hum Perform · Feb 2015
Case ReportsIsolated perivesicular hematoma after military parachuting.
Isolated perivesicular hematomas are uncommonly described and not an injury typically reported in the literature after parachuting or skydiving. ⋯ This injury pattern is uncommonly reported in the literature. An appropriate index of suspicion must be maintained or there may be a delay in diagnosis. Management of these injuries requires coordinated care between the trauma service, urology, and physical therapy.