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Orthostatic Tolerance and Breast High Compression Garments
Author(s) -
Evans Joyce M,
Schneider Rebecca S,
Platts Steven H,
Brown Angela K,
Stenger Michael B,
Knapp Charles F
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.616.2
Subject(s) - presyncope , spaceflight , hypovolemia , medicine , orthostatic intolerance , anesthesia , orthostatic vital signs , heart rate , shock (circulatory) , blood pressure , engineering , aerospace engineering
Orthostatic intolerance (OI) is observed in ~25% of astronauts after spaceflight. Although astronauts wear an antigravity suit (AGS) during re‐entry, OI is still a concern after this suit is removed. NASA recently determined that thigh high compression stockings were effective against OI, but to a lesser degree than the AGS. We evaluated stockings with added abdominal compression as a countermeasure to post‐spaceflight OI. METHODS Ten healthy volunteers (6M, 4F) participated in three 80° head‐up tilts on separate days: (1) normovolemic, (2) hypovolemic with breast‐high compression stockings (BCS), or (3) hypovolemic without BCS. To simulate plasma volume (PV) changes seen in space flight, hypovolemia was induced by IV infusion of furosemide (0.5 mg/kg) and 48 hr of a low‐salt diet. Hypovolemic testing occurred 24 and 48 h after furosemide. One‐way repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for differences in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) responses to head‐up tilt. Time to presyncope was compared with Kaplan‐Meyer survival analysis. RESULTS Hypovolemia reduced PV by 8%. BCS significantly prevented tilt‐induced presyncope (p=0.015), excessive decreases in BP (p<0.04) and increases in HR (p=0.02) in hypovolemic test subjects. CONCLUSION BCS is an effective countermeasure to OI in this hypovolemic model of space flight. These stockings are readily available, inexpensive, and can be worn for days after spaceflight as astronauts readapt to Earth gravity. Supported by KY NASA EPSCoR.