Simultaneous Changes in Leg Arterial Pulsatile Blood Flow and Toe Laser-Doppler Perfusion Accompanying Graded Thigh Compression

Previous findings showed that regional ankle cuff compression and below-knee compression bandaging cause significant decreases in skin blood perfusion distal to the compressed regions. Contrastingly, with compression bandaging, as is commonly used in the treatment of venous ulcers and other conditions, an increase in leg pulsatile blood flow in compressed regions has been reported without corresponding decreases in sub-bandage skin blood perfusion. The explanation for these differential effects is unclear in part because of the fact that foot-to-knee compression bandaging has both direct sub-bandage tissue effects and effects on distal and sub-bandage venous hemodynamics. To help clarify this issue, the present study was done to determine the role of compression-induced changes in venous pressure per se on both skin microvascular and calf pulsatile blood flow. This was done using graded thigh cuff compression up to 50 mm Hg to modify lower extremity venous pressure. During these compressions mid-calf pulsatile blood flow via magnetic resonance flowmetry and toe-skin laser-Doppler blood perfusion.