title: Effect of artificial carbon dioxide foot bathing on critical limb ischemia (Fontaine IV) in peripheral arterial disease patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that artificial carbon dioxide (CO(2)) foot bathing improves subcutaneous microcirculation in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. However, the effect for critical limb ischemia (CLI) with ulceration or gangrene (Fontaine stage IV) is not identified. The physiological effects of CO(2) bathing and the outcome of limb salvage in such patients were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 18 healthy volunteers (Study I), the dorsal pedis peripheral blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler flow-meter during CO(2) foot bathing (1000 ppm, 37 degrees C) for 10 min. A Holter electrocardiogram was also recording in the same period. Blood flow and cell volume significantly increased during bathing. Eighty-three CLI limbs (Fontaine IV) in 68 PAD patients (Study II) underwent artificial CO(2) foot bathing (for 10 minutes twice daily >2 months) were followed up >6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Study I, analysis of heart rate variability showed that high frequency amplitude (HFA) considerably increased and the ratio of low frequency amplitude to HFA (LF/HF) noticeably decreased during bathing. In Study II, 69 limbs (83.1%) could be salvaged. Twenty-seven of 28 limbs (96.4%) which have ulcer and gangrene in only one toe, 13/16 limbs (81.2%) in multiple toes and 29/39 limbs (74.4%) in all toes and/or heel respectively were saved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of CO(2) enriched water on the subcutaneous microcirculation might be brought about by peripheral vasodilation reflected by increased parasympathetic and decreased sympathetic activity, and the artificial CO(2) foot bathing is clinically effective on salvage of CLI (Fontaine stage IV) limbs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Nagoya Kyoritsu Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toriyama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumada
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogino
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawahara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001494:Baths; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005734:Gangrene / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide