Abu-Own, A.; Scurr, J. H.; Coleridge Smith, P. D.
Assessment of intermittent Pneumatic Compression by Strain-Gauge Plethysmography
Springer-Verlag London Limited 1993; ISSN: 0268-3555; Quelle Vol 8; Number 2; 68
ZDB-Dokumentennummer: 645172; Dokumentennummer: EN008031460
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Department of Surgery, University College and Middlesex School of Medicine, London, U.K.

OBJECTIVE: The venous pump of the foot assists blood returning to the heart. The
aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical activation of the foot
pump on the microcirculation of the skin in patients with peripheral occlusive
arterial disease. DESIGN: Single parallel group comparing patients with arterial
disease to normal control subjects. SETTING: Department of Surgery, the
University College and Middlesex Hospital, London, U.K. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS:
15 patients with peripheral occlusive arterial disease and 15 control subjects. A
pneumatic impulse foot pump was applied to the foot. OUTCOME MEASURES: The Laser
Doppler flux (LDF) and transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2) were measured on the
big toe with the subject supine, before, during and after a 10 min period of foot
pumping. The study was repeated with the subject sitting. RESULTS: On sitting
there is a fall in LDF and rise in tcPO2. Application of intermittent pneumatic
compression of the foot in the sitting position resulted in an increase in LDF.
In patients, the median percentage increase was 57% and the median difference was
82 arbitrary units (AU) (95% CI 60-130, p < 0.001). In controls, the median
percentage increase was 66% and the median difference was 124 AU (95% CI 73-275 p
< 0.001). There was a corresponding "further" increase in tcPO2 in both groups of
subjects. In patients, the median percentage increase was 8%, in controls the
median percentage increase was 10% p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We conclude that
intermittent pneumatic compression of the foot in the dependent position
increases LDF and tcPO2.