Venous Stasis and Fibrinolytic Activity: Influence of Graduated Compression and Changes in Gas Values

The influence of graduated venous compression of legs on changes in gas values, pH and fibrinolytic activity was investigated, and the correlation between changes in arms and legs of euglobulin clot lysis time (ELT) and of oxygen tension (pO 2 ), oxygen saturation (O 2 %), carbon dioxide tension (pCO 2 ), pH, and haematocrit was evaluated. The cuff pressure on arms was midway between systolic and diastolic pressure (mean blood pressure), and in 16 cases the same inflation pressure was used for compression of the legs (group I). In another 16 cases (group II) the very mean blood pressure of the leg was used on the legs, in general exceeding the mean pressure of the arm by approximately 35 mm Hg. The employed graduation of the venous compression did not affect changes in the measured parameters. In spite of significantly different cuff pressure, the changes in group I and group II were identical, and the usual significant differences between arm and leg in changes of O 2 %, haematocrit, ELT, and fibrinogen values were found in both groups. No correlation between induced activator activity and changes in pO 2 , O 2 %, pCO 2 , pH and haematocrit could be demonstrated.