Rithalia SV, Gonsalkorale M, Edwards J.
Effect of intermittent pneumatic compression on lower limb skin perfusion.
Angiology 1989 Apr;40(4 Pt 1):249-54

Department of Orthopaedic Mechanics, University of Salford, England.

Transcutaneous oxygen (tcPO2) and carbon dioxide (tcPCO2) measurements were used
before, during, and after intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) to assess
lower limb skin perfusion in 21 healthy adult volunteers and 23 elderly patients.
The temperature of the sensors was set at 44 degrees C during calibration and
maintained throughout all tests. Resting tcPO2 was significantly lower (p less
than 0.01) in patients than in controls. In all subjects tcPO2 decreased and
tcPCO2 increased during compression. Patients showed a highly significant
increase (p less than 0.001) in tcPCO2 during and after the treatment. Results of
this study indicate that the symptomatic improvement, in peripheral vascular
disease and wound healing following IPC, is not due to improved skin perfusion or
enhancement of oxygenation and CO2 removal.