CHANGES IN SKIN BLOOD-FLOW OVER THE FOOT WITH WARMING OF THE CONTRALATERAL HEEL

Vasospasm in one leg is a common complication of umbilical artery cath eterization in preterm infants. It is a common practice to wrap the co ntralateral leg in a warm washcloth. The rationale for this interventi on is to induce reflex vasodilatation of the affected extremity, there by avoiding the necessity to remove or replace the catheter. This stud y tested the hypothesis that heating the contralateral extremity in pr eterm infants would increase peripheral blood flow to the contralatera l foot. Ten stable preterm infants who had had no umbilical catheter i nserted for at least 2 weeks were studied. Skin perfusion was measured using the laser Doppler method in the distal leg after heating of the opposite foot to 40.5 degrees C. Blood flow to the skin of the contra lateral foot was measured before and after warming the ipsilateral one . The skin blood flow measured with and without heat application to th e contralateral foot was not significantly different. Direct heat does not induce contralateral reflex vasodilatation in the foot of preterm infants.