Bilateral lower extremity amputations after prolonged application of the pneumatic antishock garment: case report

The authors describe the case of a 29-year-old man with multiple trauma who suffered compartment syndromes necessitating bilateral lower limb amputations as a result of the prolonged (9.5 hours) application of a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG). There was no evidence of lower limb trauma before the garment was put on. Despite the apparent benefits of the PASG in traumatized hypovolemic patients, the lowest possible inflation pressures should be used and removal attempted as soon as hemodynamic stability can be assured.