EVALUATION OF FREE-RADICAL PRODUCTION IN AN ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION MODEL IN THE RABBIT USING A TOURNIQUET

Use of a tourniquet on a limb to stem blood flow is frequent in surger y. However, this results in an ischaemia-reperfusion effect that cause s damage through the production of free radicals. The aim of this work was to evaluate this production of free radicals in an ischaemia-repe rfusion model in the rabbit after placement of a tourniquet. Plasma li poperoxides were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography us ing the malondialdehyde assay method. We found significant (P<0.01) pr oduction of free radicals 1 min after release of the tourniquet compar ed with controls; no variation in levels of free radicals was observed during the ischaemia phase.