MAST usage in cardiopulmonary resuscitation

The medical antishock trouser (MAST) has been advocated as potentially beneficial in the resuscitation of patients in cardiac arrest. Currently available data indicate that the MAST will increase the blood pressure generated by external cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In addition, there may be an increased survival of patients found in cardiac arrest with an initial cardiac rhythm of pulseless idioventricular rhythm when the MAST is used. The physiologic parameters affected by the MAST may be similar to those caused by vasopressor agents in animal studies and implicated in increased survival rates. The clinical implications of these data and their relation to future investigations are discussed.