Comparison of Transcutaneous Oxygen-Tension Measurements and Ankle/Arm Indices in the Perioperative Period

Abstract

Transcutaneous oxygen tensions (TcPo₂) were compared with ankle blood pressures in 160 lower extremities of 36 diabetic and 48 nondiabetic patients in the perioperative period. TcPo₂ measurements were related to regional perfusion indices (RPI) (RPI = TcPO₂ foot/TcPO₂ chest), and ankle pressures were used to calculate ankle/arm systolic pressure indices (AAI). Severity of disease: Group I: claudication, 57/160 (36%); Group II: rest pain, 66/160 (41%); Group III: tissue loss, 37/160 (23%).

In Groups I, II, and III, preoperative mean AAI and RPI were 0.46, 0.23, 0.32 and 0.41, 0.21, 0.16, respectively. The net mean increases in AAI and RPI with revascularization for Groups I, II, and III were 0.42, 0.51, 0.41 and 0.46, 0.49, 0.62, respectively. Groups I, II, and III extremities exhibited drops in RPI with limb elevation both preoperatively and postoperatively, which averaged 0.06, 0.05, 0.14 and 0.16, 0.11, 0.14, respectively. The diabetic extremities, postoperatively, exhibited significantly greater drops in RPI (p < 0.05). RPI measurements correlated more precisely than AAI with preoperatively and postoperative perfusion.