The medical antigravity suit for management of surgically uncontrollable bleeding associated with abdominal pregnancy

Abstract

Three patients with abdominal pregnancy have been treated at Stanford University Hospital in recent years. Common to each was surgically uncontrolled hemorrhage for which circumferential pneumatic compression (supplied by a medical antigravity suit) was used to stop the bleeding. In each patient, the hemostatic effect of treatment was dramatic. In published accounts of the use of the garment in other severely hemorrhaging patients, the effects have been similarly dramatic and equally successful. These observations lead to a compelling consideration in regard to optimum management of patients with abdominal pregnancy. If our experience is confirmed by others, optimum management in abdominal pregnancy hereafter should regularly and routinely include removal of the placenta at the primary operation. This approach would anticipate use of the medical antigravity suit to provide hemostasis if surgically uncontrollable bleeding is encountered. Theoretically, the complications and long-term morbidity associated with retention of the placenta would be eliminated by this means while the previous disadvantage of placental removal, the potential for exsanguinating hemorrhage, would be circumvented.