The Value of Toe Blood Pressure Measurement in Arterial Reconstructive Surgery

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Abstract
It is generally accepted that measurements of systolic blood pressure at the limbs provide an objective approach in the evaluation of patients with arterial occlusive disease. At present, ankle systolic pressure measurement is a standard routine in most medical centers dealing with reconstructive vascular surgical procedures. Although the validity of the toe blood pressure measurement for evaluation of the hemodynamics in the toes was recognized, there were few studies documenting hemodynamic changes in toe blood pressure after reconstructive surgery. The use of pressure measurements to determine prognosis for healing of skin lesions on the toes is one of its important practical applications. Ankle blood pressure is not always a good indicator for this purpose. Toe pressure may correlate well with healing of skin lesions, because systolic pressure in the toes seems to provide a better index of the overall occlusive process than ankle pressure, which may include obstruction in the more distal vessels of the leg. The changes in ankle and toe blood pressures by arterial reconstruction were analyzed, and the significance of toe blood pressure measurement was discussed.