Aortic blood flow during sequential MAST inflation.

Cardiac output, pulse rate, blood pressure, and distal abdominal aortic blood flow were measured in ten healthy volunteers during sequential inflation of medical antishock trousers. Full inflation of all three compartments decreased distal aortic blood flow by three quarters (P less than .001) and increased blood pressure by 10% (P less than .001), but had no effect on cardiac output or pulse rate. Inflation to lower pressures was markedly less effective.