Segmental Mercury Strain Gauge Plethysmography in Patients with Intermittent Claudication

Abstract

Blood flow and volume changes after five minutes ischemia were measured with mercury strain gauges at calf and ankle. In another patient group postischemic calf and toe volume changes were measured after deflation of a tourniquet placed alternately proximal and distal to the knee. Differences of peak flow, peak flow time and peak volume time from calf to ankle were mainly similar whether the crural arteries were open or occluded. Increased distance between tourniquet and gauge tends to cause prolongation of peak volume time. This distance therefore should be standardized in all methods where timing of postischemic hyperemia response influences the results.

Key Words:

• Arteriosclerosis
• intermittent claudication
• hyperemia
• plethysmography