Abstract
Alternating negative and positive pressure applied to an extremity produces changes in the blood flow. If the flow is increased beneficial results might be expected. Increase in blood flow should increase the oxygen saturation of the venous blood. Therefore, oxygen saturation determinations from the superficial and deep venous blood of the treated extremity made before and after one hour trial treatment should indicate the degree of increased blood flow. We have applied this test to a series of 18 arteriosclerotic cases presenting vascular symptoms of the lower extremities.
In this series 9 cases presented only exercise pain, 5 cases rest and exercise pain with cyanosis of toes, 3 cases presented dry gangrene of one or more toes, and one case presented only severe night ischemic pain. Each case was studied in the basal state. Samples of blood were drawn from the superficial veins of the dorsum of the foot, or near the ankle, and from the popliteal vein. These samples were collected under oil and the percentage of oxygen saturation was determined by the Van Slyke method. Each patient was then given one hour of alternate suction and pressure therapy, using 4 short cycles per minute. The pressure ranged from minus 80 to plus 20 mm. Hg. Immediately after completion of one hour of treatment samples of blood were collected from the same locations and compared with the first specimens. These patients were then placed on regular treatment of one to 2 hours daily. They received from 16 to 240 hours. The average treatment per patient was 83.6 hours.
We are now able to draw some conclusions as to the clinical results obtained by this form of therapy. We can also correlate these results with the oxygen saturation changes and determine the value of this test as a prognostic aid.
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