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Herbert O. Sieker, M.D.; John F. Burnum, M.D.; John B. Hickam, M.D.; Kenneth E. Penrod, Ph.D.

J Am Med Assoc. 1956;161(2):132-135.

Abstract
• Two types of garments designed to apply counterpressure over the body from the waist down were tried in 10 patients with severe postural hypotension. In two cases the condition followed bilateral sympathectomy for hypertension; in the others it was either idiopathic or associated with diabetes mellitus. One patient could not sit up without fainting, and six others had frequent or occasional episodes of syncope on standing.

The air-filled suit was generally more effective than the elastic form of garment. The beneficial effects were explained by the increases observed in the blood pressure and cardiac output, which were measured on a tilting table.

Four patients were able to return to part-time employment. They found the suit both practical and comfortable and could do work that involved longer periods of standing than they had been able to endure before.

Author Affiliations
Durham, N. C.

From the departments of medicine and physiology, Duke University School of Medicine.

Footnotes
Life Insurance Medical Research Fellow, 1954-1955 (Dr. Sieker), and Life Insurance Medical Research Fellow, 1952-1953 (Dr. Burnum). The present address of Dr. Burnum is Tuscaloosa, Ala.

This investigation was supported in part by a research grant from the National Heart Institute of the National Institutes of Health and in part by a grant from the Life Insurance Medical Research Fund.

The garments used in this study were designed and fabricated by the David Clark Company, Inc., Worcester, Mass.

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