Military Anti-Shock Trousers (MAST)
OVERVIEW
- inflatable trousers once recommended for exsanguinating pelvic injury, now considered obsolete
- aka “pneumatic anti-shock garments” (PASG)
USE
- no longer recommended
DESCRIPTION
- trousers that can be inflated with a pump
METHOD OF USE
- placed on the lower limbs of the patient
- each leg and pelvic segment is inflated
- can be used with splints and dressings in place
COMPLICATIONS
- exacerbation of limb ischaemia
- pressure ulcers over bony prominences
- possibly increasing bleeding due to improved MAP
- decompensation with removal
CONTRA-INDICATIONS
- ruptured diaphragm
- pregnancy
- pulmonary oedema
OTHER INFORMATION
- invented in 1903 but introduced widely into practice during the Vietnam War
- MAST suits improve blood pressure but have been associated with worse outcomes, particularly in the subgroup with thoracic trauma
References and Links
- Lateef F, Kelvin T. Military anti-shock garment: Historical relic or a device with unrealized potential? J Emerg Trauma Shock. 2008 Jul;1(2):63-9. PMC2700619.
- Dickinson K, Roberts I. Medical anti-shock trousers (pneumatic anti-shock garments) for circulatory support in patients with trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD001856. PMID: 10796828.
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
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