Biomaterial Database

Postural hypotension and the anti-gravity suit. 1994

W H Brook

Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne.

An air force anti-gravity suit, as used by fighter pilots to prevent loss of consciousness, has been successfully employed to treat severe postural hypotension in a patient with Shy-Drager syndrome. The definition of postural hypotension is reviewed, and reference is made to the previous use of the anti-gravity suit in the treatment of this condition.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007024	Hypotension, Orthostatic	A significant drop in BLOOD PRESSURE after assuming a standing position. Orthostatic hypotension is a finding, and defined as a 20-mm Hg decrease in systolic pressure or a 10-mm Hg decrease in diastolic pressure 3 minutes after the person has risen from supine to standing. Symptoms generally include DIZZINESS, blurred vision, and SYNCOPE.	Hypotension, Postural,Orthostatic Hypotension,Postural Hypotension
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011788	Quality of Life	A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease.	HRQOL,Health-Related Quality Of Life,Life Quality,Health Related Quality Of Life
D005260	Female		Females
D005676	Gravity Suits	Double-layered inflatable suits which, when inflated, exert pressure on the lower part of the wearer's body. The suits are used to improve or stabilize the circulatory state, i.e., to prevent hypotension, control hemorrhage, and regulate blood pressure. The suits are also used by pilots under positive acceleration.	Anti-Shock Trousers,Antigravity Suits,MAST Suit,Medical Anti-Shock Trousers,Military Anti-Shock Trousers,Pneumatic Suits,Pressure Suits,Antishock Trousers,Military Antishock Trousers,Anti Shock Trousers,Anti-Shock Trouser, Medical,Anti-Shock Trousers, Medical,Anti-Shock Trousers, Military,Antishock Trousers, Military,Gravity Suit,MAST Suits,Medical Anti Shock Trousers,Medical Anti-Shock Trouser,Military Anti Shock Trousers,Pneumatic Suit,Pressure Suit,Suit, Antigravity,Suit, Gravity,Suit, MAST,Suit, Pneumatic,Suit, Pressure,Suits, Antigravity,Trouser, Medical Anti-Shock,Trousers, Anti-Shock,Trousers, Antishock,Trousers, Medical Anti-Shock,Trousers, Military Anti-Shock,Trousers, Military Antishock
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012791	Shy-Drager Syndrome	A progressive neurodegenerative condition of the central and autonomic nervous systems characterized by atrophy of the preganglionic lateral horn neurons of the thoracic spinal cord. This disease is generally considered a clinical variant of MULTIPLE SYSTEM ATROPHY. Affected individuals present in the fifth or sixth decade with ORTHOSTASIS and bladder dysfunction; and later develop FECAL INCONTINENCE; anhidrosis; ATAXIA; IMPOTENCE; and alterations of tone suggestive of basal ganglia dysfunction. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p536)	Autonomic Failure, Progressive,Idiopathic Orthostatic Hypotension, Shy-Drager Type,Orthostatic Hypotension, Dysautonomic,Dysautonomia-Orthostatic Hypotension Syndrome,Syndrome, Dysautonomia-Orthostatic Hypotension,Autonomic Failures, Progressive,Dysautonomia Orthostatic Hypotension Syndrome,Dysautonomia-Orthostatic Hypotension Syndromes,Dysautonomic Orthostatic Hypotension,Dysautonomic Orthostatic Hypotensions,Failure, Progressive Autonomic,Failures, Progressive Autonomic,Hypotension Syndrome, Dysautonomia-Orthostatic,Hypotension Syndromes, Dysautonomia-Orthostatic,Hypotension, Dysautonomic Orthostatic,Hypotensions, Dysautonomic Orthostatic,Idiopathic Orthostatic Hypotension, Shy Drager Type,Orthostatic Hypotensions, Dysautonomic,Progressive Autonomic Failure,Progressive Autonomic Failures,Shy Drager Syndrome,Syndrome, Dysautonomia Orthostatic Hypotension,Syndrome, Shy-Drager,Syndromes, Dysautonomia-Orthostatic Hypotension