An improved design of the pneumatic counter-pressure trousers

Inflation of the circumferential pneumatic counter-pressure trousers was associated with the development of hemiparesis in a multiple trauma patient. We attribute this complication to the marked movement of the spinal cord that results from inflation of the circumferential abdominal compartment of the trousers. The design of the circumferential pneumatic counter-pressure trousers was recently modified so that the inflation portion of the abdominal compartment was restricted to the anterior portion of the abdomen. Inflation of the abdominal compartment of the modified trousers resulted in considerably less movement of the spine than with the trousers having the circumferential abdominal compartment.