title: Predicting healing of lower limb ulcers.
abstract: Management of ischaemic ulcers in patients with compromised peripheral arterial circulations relies on the physical examination and the simple, non-invasive assessment of arterial supply. This study aims to determine if transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcPO2) measurement can improve management decisions based on ankle or toe systolic blood pressure measurement. Twenty-two consecutive patients with ischaemic ulcers had tcPO2 measured and the ankle/brachial (ABI) and toe/brachial (TBI) indices calculated. Two months after surgery 12 of 22 (55%) ulcers were healing and 10 (45%) were indolent. Postoperative tcPO2 values were predictive of wound outcome (P < 0.001). A tcPO2 > 31 mmHg was invariably associated with healing whilst a tcPO2 < 28 mmHg was associated with indolence. Ankle/brachial indices and TBI were unable to be calculated in all patients due to falsely elevated pressures and hallux amputations, respectively, and neither was predictive of outcome (ABI P = 0.152, TBI P = 0.069). The response to revascularization was less in diabetic patients with a mean tcPO2 increase of 18 mmHg compared to non-diabetic patients with a mean tcPO2 increase of 37 mmHg. TcPO2 measurement appears to be a reliable technique that can influence ischaemic ulcer management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Grigg
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014945:Wound Healing