The effects of antishock trouser inflation during hypothermic cardiovascular depression in the canine model

The purpose of this study was to investigate the value and to identify any deleterious effects of antishock trouser use during hypothermic cardiovascular depression. Thirteen mongrels were made hypotensive by cooling to a core temperature of approximately 27 degrees C. Eight dogs had antishock trousers inflated for one hour and five dogs served as controls. Metabolic and hemodynamic variables were measured at regular intervals during cooling, during trouser inflation, and after trouser deflation. No study animal experienced ventricular fibrillation. Neither central temperature, pH, or serum potassium nor mean arterial BP or systemic vascular resistance were significantly affected by trouser inflation or deflation. Antishock trouser use during the early phase of hypothermia before rewarming does not appear to result in a central bolus of cold, acidotic, hyperkalemic blood or the precipitation of ventricular fibrillation. There appears to be no significant hemodynamic benefit of antishock trouser use early in the management of hypotension caused by moderate hypothermia.