Limb volume measurements in peripheral arterial disease.
A simple method for measuring limb volumes of patients with peripheral arterial disease undergoing limb blood flow measurement is described. The device uses the change in surface level of water in a cylindrical reservoir to generate a voltage which is amplified and converted to a volume. The plethysmograph is stable and accurate over a wide range of limb volumes. For patients with leg ulcers or gangrene, where water immersion is not possible, a geometrical model has been developed which allows the volume to be calculated from a series of six external measurements. Comparison with measured volumes in 46 patients has shown this model to be accurate with a mean error of 3.3%. It provides a convenient alternative to direct measurement in these patients.
Cheah
L H
LH
Department of Medical Physics, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
Parkin
A
A
Gilson
P
P
Elliot
S
S
Hall
A J
AJ
D001810:Blood Volume; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008433:Mathematics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010991:Plethysmography / Q000379:methods; D012039:Regional Blood Flow