Lower extremity ischemia associated with use of military antishock trousers

A 58-year-old man was admitted to a community hospital following an overdose of nifedipine. Military antishock trousers (MAST) were applied to combat severe hypotension. Blood pressure was restored to 110/50 mm Hg three hours after admission, but the patient remained comatose. Subsequent to MAST garment removal, ischemia of both legs and scrotum was observed; at surgery, both iliofemoral systems were occluded from the aortic bifurcation to the feet. The patient never regained consciousness and died from recurrent ventricular tachycardia. The possible contributing role of the MAST garment in producing lower extremity ischemia is discussed.