Submarine medicine as an analog for spaceflight: a review of acute medical care

TL;DR

This paper compares medical challenges in submarines and spaceflight to suggest solutions for managing health during long space missions.

Contribution

The paper introduces submarine medicine as a novel analog for spaceflight to inform acute medical care strategies.

Findings

Submarines and space missions share challenges like limited surgical capabilities and isolation stress.

Comparing acute medical cases suggests the need for expanded surgical training and mental engagement.

The findings suggest submarine medicine can guide autonomous medical care for lunar and Martian missions.

Abstract

Long-duration spaceflight presents similar medical challenges to submarine deployment, including limited surgical capabilities and the psychological strain from isolation. This review synthesizes submarine medical literature to highlight parallels and divergences with space medicine, focusing on acute conditions. By comparing incidence data on acute medical diagnoses and examining case studies of these conditions, we propose countermeasures such as expanded surgical training and increased mental engagement. These analogies provide a blueprint for autonomous medical care on missions to the Moon and Mars.