Effect of antishock trousers on the trauma score: a prospective analysis in the urban setting

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the effect of military antishock trousers (MAST) use on the presenting emergency center trauma score (TS) in an urban prehospital setting. Sixty-eight patients were assigned randomly to study and control groups in a prospective investigation of the use of MAST on injured patients with hypotension. Thirty-two control patients, whose mean initial systolic BP was 59 +/- 32 mm Hg, and 36 MAST-treated patients, whose mean initial BP was 55 +/- 31 mm Hg, were found to be well matched for age; sex; type and location of injuries; initial field TS; response, field management, and transport times; and the total amount of intravenous crystalloid infused. Our results demonstrated no significant difference between the control and MAST-treated groups in the presenting emergency department TS (9.8 +/- 6.6 vs 10.6 +/- 5.9). These data conflict with the widely accepted belief that MAST will always enhance conventional support for improving the prehospital condition of injured patients with significant hypotension.