Transcutaneous oxygen tension measurement in peripheral vascular disease.

To date, results of laboratory and clinical investigations suggest that transcutaneous pO2 measurements hold considerable promise as a technique for evaluating the adequacy of cutaneous circulation. The advantages of this technique are that it is simple to use, noninvasive and does not require the use of radioactive isotopes. Since the available data are, as yet, insufficient to confirm the reliability of this technique, a prospective study of segmental transcutaneous pO2 values in patients with peripheral vascular disease is being continued. These values are then being correlated with the subsequent clinical course.