Comparison of two devices for measuring exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressures in patients with claudication.

BACKGROUND

We aimed at estimating the agreement between the Medicap" (photo-optical) and Radiometer• (electrochemical) sensors during exercise transcutaneous oxygen pressure ( tcp02) tests. Our hypothesis was that although absolute starting values (tcp02rest: mean over 2 minutes) might)e different, tcpOTchanges over time and the minimal value of the decrease from rest of oxygen pressure (DROPmin) results at exercise shall be concordant between the two systems. taneously, one of each system on the chest, on each buttock and on each calf.

RESULTS

Seventeen Medicap" probes disconnected during the tests. tcp02rest and DROPmin values were higher with Medicap• than with Radiometer•, by 13.7 ± 17.1mmHg and 3.4 ± 11.7 mmHg, respectively. Despite the differences in absolute starting values, changes over time were similar between the two systems. The concordance between the two systems was approximately 70% for classification of test results from DROPmin.

CONCLUSIONS

Photo-optical sensors are promising alternatives to electro-chemical sensors for exercise oximetry, provided that miniaturization and weight reduction of the new sensors are possible.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Forty seven patients with arterial claudication ( 65 ± 7 years) performed a treadmill test with 5 probes each of the electro-chemical and photo-optical devices simul-