Assessment of transcutaneous oxygen tension in ischaemic legs by means of using an electric blanket and 40% O2.

This work was done to evaluate the transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) in ischaemic legs introducing two variables: O2 breathed at 40% and heating with an electric blanket (HEB). Forty nine legs were studied and divided into three different groups: Normal (N) 19 legs, Intermittent Claudication (IC) 12, and Rest Pain (RP) 13. The transcutaneous sensor was placed on the Anterior Chest Wall (AChW), High thigh (HT), Anterior Tibial Compartment (ATC) and Dorsum of the Foot (DF). Measurements were done at each area with and without 40% O2 and with and without HEB. The TcPO2 readings increased significantly (P less than 0.05) in the three groups (N, IC, RP) at all leg levels (HT, ATC, DF) when the patient breathed 40% O2 with and without HEB. In the N group no significant differences were noted between the three leg levels whether the 40% O2 or the HEB was used or not (P less than 0.05). In the RP group significant differences were obtained when the HEB was used whether the patient was breathing ambient O2 or at 40%. On the contrary, when the HEB was not used, the differences between HT and ATC disappeared but persisted at the DF (P less than 0.05). There was a good correlation at the DF and at the AChW (DF/AChW) (r: 0.8012; P less than 0.001). From these results, we conclude that the TcPO2 is a good method of differentiating different degrees of leg ischemia in vascular patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)