Wd. Fraser et al., CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPONSES WITH STANDARD AND EXTENDED BLADDER COVERAGE G-SUITS DURING RAPID DECOMPRESSION, Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 65(3), 1994, pp. 209-213
This study compared the cardiovascular responses of subjects exposed t
o 60,000 ft. rapid decompressions while wearing the Combined Advanced
Technology Enhanced Design ''G'' Ensemble (COMBAT EDGE or CE) and the
Tactical Life Support System (TLSS). Eight subjects were rapidly decom
pressed from 22,500 ft (6,858 m) to 60,000 ft (18,288 m), once wearing
the CE ensemble and ones wearing the TLSS ensemble. There were signif
icant differences in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac index, and mea
n arterial pressure (p < 0.0001), due to garment type, with TLSS provi
ding better cardiovascular support. Oxygen saturation did not decrease
to the same degree with CE as with TLSS (p < 0.0001). Both TLSS and C
E provided sufficient physiological support to maintain oxygen saturat
ions above 65% during the a-min exposures to 60,000 Ct attitude. Short
-term physiological support at higher altitudes with greater PPB level
s or longer duration excursions at 60,000 ft may not be possible witho
ut the greater G-suit bladder coverage and cardiovascular support prov
ided by TLSS-type garments.