Effects of leg and body position on transcutaneous oxygen measurements in healthy subjects and subjects with peripheral artery disease after lower-extremity arterial revascularization: A pilot study

Abstract

Transcutaneous oxygen (TcPO2) measurements provide a noninvasive, objective determination of the oxygen level at the skin surface. This offers a means of estimating the underlying circulation and tissue oxygenation. The purpose of the pilot study was to measure the TcPO2 value of the lower extremity of healthy men and women and of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 4 different body and leg positions 24 hours after peripheral vascular surgery reconstruction. The specific aim was to determine if lower-extremity TcPO2 measurements were affected by changes in extremity position in these subject populations. A convenience sample of 4 healthy health care professionals and 4 patients who had peripheral vascular reconstruction surgery 24 hours before the measurements were studied. Subjects were studied in 4 different leg and body positions: supine with legs extended, sitting with legs dependent, a 5° head-up reverse Trendelenburg, and supine with legs elevated 10 in. The Radiometer TCM30 TcPO2 monitor was used to carry out these measures. Findings revealed a statistically significant difference in TcPO2 measurements between the 2 groups, with the healthy subjects having a significantly higher TcPO2 measurement in all extremity positions compared with the revascularized subjects with PAD (P =.02−.05). Significant changes were noted in both the foot temperature (P =.03) and TcPO2 measurements with extremity positions within the healthy subject group (P =.001). The foot and leg TcPO2 measurements affect from leg and body position did not reach significance (P =.09) in the subjects with PAD. No change in foot temperature with extremity positioning (P =.42) was noted in the subjects with PAD. This pilot study provides a base in which additional research will be performed with TcPO2 measurements in both the healthy and revascularized person. (J Vasc Nurs 2002;20:125-35)