Accession Number:

ADA279305

Title:

The Influence of Coronary Artery Disease on +Gz Tolerance: A Preliminary Study

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. Feb 1989-Dec 1991

Corporate Author:

ROTHE DEVELOPMENT INC SAN ANTONIO TX

Personal Author(s):

Report Date:

1994-04-01

Pagination or Media Count:

7.0

Abstract:

Current Air Force policy restricts pilots, with even minimal coronary artery disease CAD, from flying high-performance aircraft. Liberalization of this policy is being considered, but additional data are needed for more informed decision. Eleven miniature swine MS were placed on a high cholesterolhigh fat diet for 1 year. Five additional MS were maintained on a standard control swine diet no cholesterol over the same time. A vascular access port VAP was surgically placed into the superior vena cava. The 16 unanesthetized MS were Gz-stress one or two times each, using an alternating 4- 8 Gz simulated aerial combat maneuver SACM with 10 sec at each Gz level. The MS were protected with an abdominal bladder anti-G suit. At the end of the SACM, Tc-99m was infused into the VAP and the MS were scanned for myocardial perfusion approximately 1 h later. Three MS died before data collection, one at 6 mos and two at 9 mos. Histopathology showed moderate-to-severe CAD in the three MS. Control and experimental plasma cholesterol levels mg were total 77 and 422 ratio 2.3 and 8.6 LDL 35 and 353, respectively. Dysrhythmias and T- wave alterations during Gz were seen equally in both the control and experimental MS. However, ST-T segment changes during Gz were observed in all of the cholesterol MS, but not in the control MS.

Descriptors:

Subject Categories:

  • Medicine and Medical Research
  • Stress Physiology
  • Life Support Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


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