military antishock trousers

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pneu·mat·ic an·ti·shock gar·ment

(nū-mat'ik an'tē-shŏk gar'ment),

An inflatable suit used to apply pressure to the peripheral circulation, thus reducing blood flow and fluid exudation into tissues to maintain central blood flow in the presence of shock.

Synonym(s): military antishock trousers

military antishock trousers (MAST)

Etymology: L, ante, opposed; Fr, choc + Gael, triubhas, trews

a garment designed to produce pressure on the lower part of the body, thereby preventing the pooling of blood in the legs and abdomen. The trousers are used to combat shock and stabilize fractures, promote hemostasis, increase peripheral vascular resistance, and permit autotransfusion of small amounts of blood. They are now rarely used. Also called medical antishock trousers, pneumatic antishock garment. See shock trousers.

A garment-like device placed around a patient’s legs and abdomen (it has 2 separate chambers) and inflated to provide emergency treatment of shock until more definitive therapy—e.g., volume replacement, transfusion, or surgery—can be performed

pneu·mat·ic an·ti·shock gar·ment

(nū-mat'ik an'tē-shock' gahr'mĕnt)

An inflatable suit used to apply pressure to the peripheral circulation, thus reducing blood flow and fluid exudation into tissues, to maintain central blood flow in the presence of shock.
Synonym(s): military antishock trousers.