Calf Blood Pressure Measurements the Applicability of a Plethysmographic Method and the Results of Measurements during Reactive Hyperaemia

Abstract

Indirect measurements of calf blood pressure with a plethysmographic cuff on the calf just distal to the pressure cuff was made in 13 normal subjects and 80 patients with atherosclerosis obliterans. Recordings were made at rest and immediately after exercise or timed circulatory arrest, and the results were compared with recordings made with a plethysmograph cuff on the forefoot, with ankle blood pressure measurements in normal subjects, and with intra-arterial measurements in 2 patients. It is concluded that plethysmographic calf blood pressure recordings at rest are most reliable when performed with a plethysmograph cuff on the forefoot. However, this method is inapplicable for measurements immediately after exercise and often after circulatory arrest. The present study shows that during such circumstances reliable calf blood pressure measurements can be performed with a plethysmograph cuff on calf.

Key Words:

• Arteriosclerosis obliterans
• blood pressure
• reactive hyperaemia