Change in the Condition of Lower Limb Veins in Cosmonauts on Long-Duration Missions
Kotovskaya, A.R.; Fomina, G.A.; Salnikov, A.V.
Aviakosmicheskaia i Ekologicheskaia Meditsina 49(5): 5-10
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0233-528X PMID: 26738301 Document Number: 682424
The paper reports changes in the main parameters of the lower limb veins in 36 cosmonauts in the course of 6-month space missions. Major reduction in the leg volume was shown in all cosmonauts, as well as a significant increase of venous capacity and compliance. Rate of vein filling exhibited different trends, i.e. decreased in the majority of cosmonauts (n = 26, 74%) and increased in the rest (n = 9, 26%). Increases in venous capacity, compliance and filling rate may impact orthostatic stability (OS). These changes are among the pathophysiological mechanisms of the OS loss in space flight.