Transcutaneous oxygen (tcPO2) and carbon dioxide (tcPCO2) measurements were used before, during, and after intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) to assess lower limb skin perfuson in 21 healthy adult volunteers and 23 elderly patients. The temperature of the sensors was set at 44 ° C during calibration and maintained throughout all tests. Resting tcPO2was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in patients than in controls. In all subjects tcPO2decreased and tcPCO2in creased during compression. Patients showed a highly significant increase (p < 0.001) in tcPCO2during and after the treatment. Results of this study indi cate that the symptomatic improvement, in peripheral vascular disease and wound healing following IPC, is not due to improved skin perfusion or enhance ment of oxygenation and CO2removal.
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