Affiliation:
1. I.R.C. in Biomedical Materials, Queen Mary, University of London, London E1 4NS; and
2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
Abstract
Two complementary techniques were employed to assess the soft tissue response to applied pressure. The noninvasive methods involve the simultaneous measurement of the local tensions of oxygen and carbon dioxide (tcPo 2 and tcPco 2) and the collection and subsequent analysis of sweat collected from the sacrum, a common site for the development of pressure sores. All tests were performed on able-bodied subjects. Results have indicated that oxygen levels (tcPo 2) were lowered in soft tissues subjected to applied pressures of between 40 (5.3 kPa) and 120 mmHg (16.0 kPa). At the higher pressures, this decrease was generally associated with an increase in carbon dioxide levels (tcPco 2) well above the normal basal levels of 45 mmHg (6 kPa). There were also considerable increases, in some cases up to twofold, in the concentrations of both sweat lactate and urea at the loaded site compared with the unloaded control. By comparing selected parameters, a threshold value for loaded tcPo 2 was identified, representing a reduction of ∼60% from unloaded values. Above this threshold, there was a significant relationship between this parameter and the loaded/unloaded concentration ratios for both sweat metabolites. These parameters may prove useful in identifying those subjects whose soft tissue may be compromised during periods of pressure ischemia.
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Subject
Physiology (medical),Physiology
Cited by
65 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献