PASG: does it help in the management of traumatic shock?

A prospective, randomized study was designed to determine the efficacy of pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) in the treatment of traumatic shock in a medium-size urban community. A total of 291 traumatic shock patients were assigned to either the PASG or No-PASG treatment groups. Of these, data from 248 patients were analyzed in detail. Analysis of demographic factors--such as age, sex, and mechanism of injury--as well as prehospital evaluative tools--such as trauma and CRAMS scores, and injury severity scores--revealed that the two groups were well-matched. This study did not demonstrate significant differences in hospital stay or mortality between PASG and No-PASG patients. Similarly, in the subset of patients with blunt trauma, PASG was not found to be beneficial.