The beneficial effects of negative pressure have been well described, but attempts to create a device that is both effective and portable enough to have an impact have had limited success. However, increasingly usable versions have been developed, consisting of a cuirass (two shells that are placed on the anterior and posterior thorax) that encase bladders that fill with air and decompress at predetermined settings. They have become more reliable and portable and therefore have been mentioned increasingly often in the medical literature as their potential uses are broadened. Indeed, these devices have a clear potential role in the hospital arena, particularly in periprocedural areas.