Spaceflight Recovery Considerations for Acute Inhalational Exposure to Hydrazines.

Inhalation of hydrazine or hydrazine-derivative (for example, monomethylhydrazine) vapors during spaceflight operations remains a risk to crew and ground support personnel. Here we sought to provide an evidence-based approach to inform acute clinical treatment guidelines for inhalational exposures during a noncatastrophic contingency spaceflight recovery scenario. A review of published literature was conducted concerning hydrazine/hydrazine-derivative exposure and clinical sequelae.

Surveillance for jugular venous thrombosis in astronauts.

Background: Thrombosis of the left internal jugular vein in an astronaut aboard the International Space Station was recently described, incidentally discovered during a research study of blood flow in neck veins in microgravity. Given this event, and the high incidence of flow abnormalities, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) instituted an occupational surveillance program to evaluate astronauts for venous thrombosis.

Methods: Duplex ultrasound of the bilateral internal jugular veins was conducted on all NASA astronauts terrestrially, and at three points during spaceflight.

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Pulmonary Concerns in Remote Spaceflight Triage Environments.

Introduction: With the development of the commercial space industry, growing numbers of spaceflight participants will engage in activities with a risk for pulmonary injuries, including pneumothorax, ebullism, and decompression sickness, as well as other concomitant trauma. Medical triage capabilities for mishaps involving pulmonary conditions have not been systematically reviewed. Recent studies have advocated the use of point-of-care ultrasound to screen for lung injury or illness.