Effect of intermittent pneumatic compression on lower limb oxygenation.
The effect of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) of the lower limbs on transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) was studied in 14 healthy volunteers and the same number of elderly patients. The oxygen sensor was calibrated at 37C in room air. This temperature was also used for measurements. Compression pressure in the IPC garment was standardized to 50mmHg inflation and zero mmHg deflation. Cycle time was set to 30 seconds inflation and 30 seconds deflation. It was found that using this combination of pressure and cycle times, tcPO2 fell during compression in all subjects and returned to the precompression level after the treatment. Although reactive hyperemia of various intensities occurred in some subjects after compression, tcPO2 did not rise significantly above the resting level. This suggests that the symptomatic improvement reported by patients treated with IPC was more likely to be due to enhanced removal of metabolites and supply of nutrients than to an improvement in leg oxygenation.
Department of Orthopaedic Mechanics, University of Salford, UK.
S V
SV
Rithalia
J
J
Edwards
A
A
Sayegh
D000328:Adult; D001775:Blood Circulation; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature
D010100:Oxygen