[The use of the "anti-G-suit" during operations in the sitting position as a treatment of postural hypotension.(author's transl)].

The use of the "Anti-G-Suit" in patients with postural hypotension is described. Acute falls in the blood pressure during operations in the sitting position can be successfully treated with the aid of an external counterpressure garment reaching from ankles to xiphoid process. The mean increase in systolic blood pressure was about 60% in hypotensive and 17% in normotensive control patients. A reciprocal relation between pre-treatment blood pressure and its increase after use of the "G-Suit" was noticed. In contrast to previous practice, we were able to operate on all hypotensive patients in poor condition. The effect of external counterpressure on the lower part of the body can be explained by increase of peripheral resistance and decrease of vascular flow, resulting in better venous return, displacement of the circulating blood above the diaphragm and augmentation of systolic blood pressure.