Response of Femoral Venous Oxygen Tension to Graduated Pressure Stockings - Possible Relationship to Deep Vein Thrombosis

Summary

Venous oxygen tension (pO₂) was measured in discrete samples of blood obtained through the femoral vein of cardiac catheterisation patients before, during and after application of sustained external graduated pressure in the form of compression stockings (T. E. D. Kendall). There was a significant reduction (p <0.05) of pO₂ from the baseline value both 30 sec and one minute after the application of the pressure stockings. Thereafter, the pO₂ rose to baseline values. Two minutes after the stockings were removed there was again a significant reduction (p <0.05) of pO₂ from the baseline value. We suggest that the decrease in ivenous pO₂ on application of external pressure may be a reflection of washing out of stagnant hypoxic blood from the venous valve pockets, which may be related to the formation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Key Words

Oxygen tension - Pressure stockings - Deep vein thrombosis

• References

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