title: Improvement of microcirculatory blood flow under epidural spinal cord stimulation in patients with nonreconstructible peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
abstract: Epidural spinal cord stimulation (ESCS) has been suggested as a method to improve microcirculatory blood flow and to reduce the amputation rate in vascular patients. We studied the effects of ESCS on microcirculatory blood flow in 237 patients with nonreconstructible peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Clinical status was classified as Fontaine Stage 3 (ischemic rest pain) in 169 patients and as Fontaine Stage 4 (ulcers/gangrene) in 68 patients. After a mean follow-up period of 31.2 months, major pain relief (> 75%) was noticed in patients who retained their limbs. Sixty-four patients underwent major amputation despite ESCS. Clinical improvement was confirmed by the increase in transcutaneous oxygen (TcPO2).
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, General Hospital Cologne-Porz, Cologne Medical School, University of Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Claeys
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004824:Epidural Space; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010313:Partial Pressure; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*