CHANGES IN POSTOCCLUSIVE REACTIVE HYPEREMIC VALUES AS MEASURED WITH LASER-DOPPLER FLUXMETRY AFTER INFRAINGUINAL ARTERIAL RECONSTRUCTIONS

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate microcirculat ory changes of the postocclusive reactive hyperaemia test measured wit h Laser Doppler fluxmetry to detect results of arterial reconstruction s. Design: Prospective open study. Setting: Vascular laboratory of a U niversity Hospital. Materials: Sixty patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease who underwent infrainguinal reconstruction were exa mined the day before and 1-2 days after surgery. Chief outcome measure s: The values were obtained during postocclusive reactive hyperaemia i nduced by release of a 3 min arterial occlusion with a cuff at ankle l evel with the laser Doppler probe placed dorsally an the first toe. Th e alterations after surgery in these hyperaemia parameters were compar ed to changes in ankle/brachial index and clinical improvement at 30 d ays postoperatively. Main results: Patients improved by surgery accord ing to ankle/brachial index had significantly reduced time to peak (p < 0.001) and significantly increased resting flux value (p < 0.05) and peak flux value (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation betwe en the change after surgery in time to peak flux and increment of ankl e/brachial index (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Changes in reacti ve hyperaemia values as measured with laser Doppler fluxmetry, expecia lly the time to peak flux seem to detect circulatory changes caused by arterial reconstructions.