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Pirri C, Pirri N, Stecco C, Macchi V, De Caro R, Porzionato A. Optimizing healthcare in space: the role of ultrasound imaging in medical conditions. J Ultrasound 2024:10.1007/s40477-024-00930-8. [PMID: 38995615 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-024-00930-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In the context of long-distance space travel, managing medical conditions presents unique challenges due to communication delays. Consequently, onboard physicians must possess proficiency in diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, which has demonstrated its efficacy in the Space. However, there is a notable lack of comprehensive discussion regarding its effectiveness in handling medical scenarios in the Space. This bibliometric and systematic review aims to provide an updated analysis of the evidence supporting the role of ultrasound imaging in diagnosing medical conditions within microgravity environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Pirri
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121, Padua, Italy.
| | - Nina Pirri
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, School of Radiology, Radiology Institute, University of Padova, 35122, Padua, Italy
| | - Carla Stecco
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Veronica Macchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Raffaele De Caro
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121, Padua, Italy
| | - Andrea Porzionato
- Department of Neurosciences, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, 35121, Padua, Italy
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Elias A, Weber T, Green DA, Harris KM, Laws JM, Greaves DK, Kim DS, Mazzolai-Duchosal L, Roberts L, Petersen LG, Limper U, Bergauer A, Elias M, Winnard A, Goswami N. Systematic review of the use of ultrasound for venous assessment and venous thrombosis screening in spaceflight. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:14. [PMID: 38316814 PMCID: PMC10844233 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00356-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The validity of venous ultrasound (V-US) for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during spaceflight is unknown and difficult to establish in diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic management studies in this context. We performed a systematic review of the use of V-US in the upper-body venous system in spaceflight to identify microgravity-related changes and the effect of venous interventions to reverse them, and to assess appropriateness of spaceflight V-US with terrestrial standards. An appropriateness tool was developed following expert panel discussions and review of terrestrial diagnostic studies, including criteria relevant to crew experience, in-flight equipment, assessment sites, ultrasound modalities, and DVT diagnosis. Microgravity-related findings reported as an increase in internal jugular vein (IJV) cross-sectional area and pressure were associated with reduced, stagnant, and retrograde flow. Changes were on average responsive to venous interventions using lower body negative pressure, Bracelets, Valsalva and Mueller manoeuvres, and contralateral IJV compression. In comparison with terrestrial standards, spaceflight V-US did not meet all appropriateness criteria. In DVT studies (n = 3), a single thrombosis was reported and only ultrasound modality criterion met the standards. In the other studies (n = 15), all the criteria were appropriate except crew experience criterion, which was appropriate in only four studies. Future practice and research should account for microgravity-related changes, evaluate individual effect of venous interventions, and adopt Earth-based V-US standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Elias
- Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Sainte Musse Hospital, Toulon Hospital Centre, Toulon, France.
- Clinical Research and Innovation, Sainte Musse Hospital, Toulon Hospital Centre, Toulon, France.
- Investigation Network On Venous Thrombo-Embolism | French Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (INNOVTE | F-CRIN), Toulon, France.
| | - Tobias Weber
- Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), European Astronaut Center (EAC), European Space Agency (ESA), Cologne, Germany
- KBR, Cologne, Germany
| | - David A Green
- Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), European Astronaut Center (EAC), European Space Agency (ESA), Cologne, Germany
- KBR, Cologne, Germany
- Centre of Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katie M Harris
- Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Jonathan M Laws
- University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcaslte-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- Space Biomedicine Systematic Review Methods Group, Wylam, United Kingdom
| | | | - David S Kim
- Space Medicine Team (HRE-OM), European Astronaut Center (EAC), European Space Agency (ESA), Cologne, Germany
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Lara Roberts
- King's Thrombosis Centre, Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lonnie G Petersen
- Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ulrich Limper
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany
- University of Witten / Herdecke, Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Merheim Medical Center, Hospitals of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andrej Bergauer
- Department of Surgery, LKH Südsteiermark, Wagna, Austria
- Gravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Elias
- Critical Care Medicine, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Hartford Healthcare, Bridgeport, CT, USA
- The Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Andrew Winnard
- Space Biomedicine Systematic Review Methods Group, Wylam, United Kingdom
| | - Nandu Goswami
- Division of Physiology, Otto Loewi Research Center of Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Applied Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Whittle RS, Diaz-Artiles A. Gravitational effects on carotid and jugular characteristics in graded head-up and head-down tilt. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2023; 134:217-229. [PMID: 36476158 PMCID: PMC9870583 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00248.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered gravity affects hemodynamics and blood flow in the neck. At least one incidence of jugular venous thrombosis has been reported in an astronaut on the International Space Station. This investigation explores the impact of changes in the direction of the gravitational vector on the characteristics of the neck arteries and veins. Twelve subjects underwent graded tilt from 45° head-up to 45° head-down in 15° increments in both supine and prone positions. At each angle, the cross-sectional area of the left and right common carotid arteries (ACCA) and internal jugular veins (AIJV) were measured by ultrasound. Internal jugular venous pressure (IJVP) was also measured by compression sonography. Gravitational dose-response curves were generated from experimental data. ACCA did not show any gravitational dependence. Conversely, both AIJV and IJVP increased in a nonlinear fashion with head-down tilt. AIJV was significantly larger on the right side than the left side at all tilt angles. In addition, IJVP was significantly elevated in the prone position compared with the supine position, most likely because of raised intrathoracic pressure while prone. Dose-response curves were compared with existing experimental data from parabolic flight and spaceflight studies, showing good agreement on an acute timescale. The quantification of jugular hemodynamics as a function of changes in the gravitational vector presented here provides a terrestrial model to reference spaceflight-induced changes, contributes to the assessment of the pathogenesis of spaceflight venous thromboembolism events, and informs the development of countermeasures.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Flow stasis and thrombosis have been identified in the jugular vein during spaceflight. We measured the area and pressure of the internal jugular vein and the area of the common carotid artery in graded head-up and head-down tilt. Experimental data are used to generate gravitational dose-response curves for the measured variables, demonstrating that jugular vein area and pressure exhibit a nonlinear response to altered gravity. Gravitational dose-response curves show good agreement with spaceflight and parabolic flight studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Whittle
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Ana Diaz-Artiles
- Department of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- Department of Kinesiology & Sport Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
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