Rheologic and Metabolic Studies in the Vascular bed of the leg after Arterial Reconstruction, at rest and during Exercise

Abstract

Blood flow through the common iliac artery was measured at rest and during exercise in the supine position, with an electromagnetic flow probe left in situ for 3-4 days after operation in seven patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans as a control of the surgical result. Blood flow was found to increase linearly with total oxygen uptake as did leg oxygen uptake calculated from leg blood flow and the iliac arterio-venous oxygen difference. The mechanical efficiency was high indicating that the leg probably was supplied with blood from other sources than the iliac artery, that part of the work was performed by muscles, not supplied with blood from other sources than the iliac artery, that part of the work was performed by muscles, not supplied by the common iliac artery or that a significant collateral flow was present. The perfusion pressure over the leg remained unchanged with increasing blood flow which implies a hyperbolic decrease of the leg vascular resistance. Lactate release was found to increase only slightly during exercise indicating a minor anaerobic metabolic component in the release of chemical energy.