Increased tissue pressure can cause a sharp decline or complete cessation of blood flow even below mean arterial pressure, likely contributing to compartmental syndromes.
Does increased tissue pressure reduce blood flow in animals and man?
Increased tissue pressure can lead to cessation of blood flow through active arteriolar closure and passive capillary collapse, which is relevant in compartmental syndromes.
Theoretical consideration of the factors involved in maintaining vascular equilibrium and experimental evidence in animals and man indicate that at high tissue pressures there may be a sharp decline in blood flow and, in certain situations, complete cessation of blood flow even at tissue pressures below mean arterial pressure. At least two mechanisms appear to be involved: active closure of small arterioles under vasomotor tone when transmural pressure is lowered, either by falls in intravascular pressure or rises in tissue pressure, and passive collapse of soft-walled capillaries when tissue pressure rises above intracapillary pressure. These mechanisms are likely to assume particular importance when tissues are surrounded by non-compliant fascia and may thus be involved in compartmental syndromes.
Heather Ashton (1975) conducted a review in Compartmental syndromes. Increased tissue pressure was evaluated on Blood flow. Increased tissue pressure can cause a sharp decline or complete cessation of blood flow even below mean arterial pressure, likely contributing to compartmental syndromes.