A Safety-Centric Study on the Use of Inflatable Abdominal Binders for Managing Orthostatic Hypotension

Abstract

The study focuses on the design and evaluation of inflatable abdominal binders for managing Orthostatic Hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is a condition characterized by a significant drop in blood pressure when a person stands up, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and even fainting. The management of orthostatic hypotension typically involves a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. In the context of this research, an inflatable abdominal binder was designed, leveraging components that are not only economically viable but also easily obtainable. The evaluation of this device was conducted using a medical education manikin, specifically the CAE iStan manikin. The results demonstrated a correlation between the inflation values of the belt and the resulting pressure values exerted on the body. The general recommendation for an abdominal binder is to exert a pressure of 20-40 mmHg. Contrary to this, the study found that to maintain safe external pressure on the abdomen, the binder should not be inflated over 25 mmHg. This safety threshold was used as a reference point in the study, suggesting a potential need to revisit the standard recommendations for abdominal binder pressure. Further research is needed to assess the device's effectiveness in human subjects and to potentially redefine the safe and effective pressure range for abdominal binders.

Keywords: abdominal constrictor; force loads; orthostatic hypotension; statistical analysis.

Figure 1

Illustration of the pressure measurement process under the inflated belt: it includes the locations along the midsternal and left midclavicular lines where the pressure values are measured, and the positioning of the belt and pressure monitor on the manikin. (Adapted from [14]).

Figure 2

Box plots depicting groups of the data through their quartiles for (a) midsternal line, and (b) midcervical line. The ’×’ depicts the average values (see Table 1).