Background: It has been suggested that poor healing of wounds may be a
ssociated with reduced tissue oxygenation. A non-invasive method of as
sessing peripheral venous oxygenation has been investigated. Method: C
hanges in oxyhaemoglobin (O(2)Hb), deoxy haemoglobin (HHb), oxidized c
ytochrome aa(3) (cyt aa(3)) and total haemoglobin (tHb) were monitored
in the left lower leg of seven healthy volunteers. A short period of
venous occlusion was achieved by rapidly inflating a sphygmomanometer
cuff placed around the leg to 60 mmHg. The changes in O(2)Hb and tHb,
with respect to the baseline readings, were evaluated. PSvO(2) was cal
culated from (Delta O(2)Hb/Delta tHb) x 100%. Results: From 17 sets of
readings on the seven volunteers the median PSvO(2) calculated was 64
% (range 50-86%). Conclusion: This method appears to be a simple means
of evaluating PSvO(2). A change in cyt aa(3) was often seen associate
d with the venous occlusion.