Why the study?
Does general anaesthesia affect blood flow to the calves during abdominal surgery?
Does general anaesthesia affect blood flow to the calves during abdominal surgery?
General anaesthesia and the surgical procedure itself significantly increase blood flow to the calves during abdominal surgery due to decreased peripheral resistance.
May increase calf perfusion via vasodilation in abdominal surgery; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
The blood flow to the calves during abdominal surgery under different kinds of general anaesthesia was measured by strain gauge plethysmography in 12 patients. The volume flow increased 100% during surgery in both light and deep anaesthesia, caused by a decrease in peripheral resistance. The increase in volume flow could partly be explained by the anaesthesia itself, possibly induced by the use of a nitrous oxide-oxygen gas mixture. The surgical procedure caused a further increase in volume flow. Possible underlying mechanisms are discussed.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Lindström et al. (1984) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: