Cutaneous blood flow in the foot following lumbar sympathectomy

Abstract

Welch GH, Lieberman DP. Cutaneous blood flow in the foot following lumbar sympathectomy. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 1985; 45: 621–626.

Cutaneous blood flow in the foot was assessed by ¹²⁵I iodoantipyrine clearance in patients with peripheral vascular disease. Three groups were studied: group (a) consisted of 10 controls, Group (b) of 10 patients who had arterial reconstruction, and Group (c) of 10 patients having lumbar sympathectomy. Skin blood flow remained constant in the control patients. In Group (b) arterial reconstruction increased skin blood flow from mean 4.3 ml/100g/min to a mean of 14.9 ml/100g/min (p<0.001). In group (c) skin blood flow did not significantly change from a mean preoperative value of 7.6 ml/100g/min to a mean postoperative value of 8.1 (ml/100g/min). These results suggest that lumbar sympathectomy does not affect nutritional blood flow.

Key Words:

• iodoantipyrine
• lumbar sympathectomy
• skin blood flow