Transcutaneous pO2 Monitoring In The Vascular Laboratory

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Abstract
Transcutaneous oxygen monitoring (TcO2) was used to evaluate vascular laboratory patients with lesions of the lower extremities. Normal values were established for comparison. Except during exercise, all measurements were taken with the patient in a supine position. Measurements over bony prominences and tendonous areas tended to be unpredictable, but no value lower than 50 torr was obtained in normals. There was a 10 to 15 percent increase-in TcO2 in the normal leg with exercise. Although resting values were normal, those patients with claudication had a significant drop in TcO2 following exercise. After revascularization procedures, they demonstrated normal increases in TcO2 with exercise. Those with ischemic ulceration had lower than normal TcO2; however, the TcO2 did not always reflect the severity of the disease or the capacity for healing. Patients scheduled to undergo amputation were evaluated preoperatively. All those with calf TcO2 of 50 torr or greater who subsequently underwent below-the-knee amputations had good results. Our initial work confirms that transcutaneous oxygen values reflect local tissue perfusion in these patients, and these measurements may be helpful in the clinical management of patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic disease.

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