Physiological considerations concerning positive pressure breathing (PBG) during +Gz

Abstract

The ability to tolerate +Gz radial acceleration depends primarily on the maintenance of sufficient head level arterial pressure and cerebral blood flow to prevent the occurrence of blackout and G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC). Because of the hydrostatic effect on the heart-to-head blood column during +Gz acceleration, if exposures to higher +Gz levels are to be tolerated, either the column must be shortened or arterial pressure at heart level must be elevated. This paper is an overview of the effect and concomitant side effects of positive pressure breathing (PBG) as a means to increase arterial pressure at the heart, and, indirectly, at the cerebral level. However, before doing that, it is necessary to summarise the different ways for increasing arterial pressure to obtain tolerance to increasing +Gz loads.