The arterial tourniquet: pathophysiological consequences and anaesthetic implications
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Published on: November 28, 2025
P C Kam1, R Kavanagh, F F Yoong
1Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, University of Sydney at the Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. pkam@med.usyd.edu.au
Abstract:
The arterial tourniquet is widely used in upper and lower extremity surgery and in intravenous regional anaesthesia. The local and systemic physiological effects and the anaesthetic implications are reviewed. Localised complications result from either tissue compression beneath the cuff or tissue ischaemia distal to the tourniquet. Systemic effects are related to the inflation or deflation of the tourniquet. Safe working guidelines for the application of an arterial tourniquet have not been clearly defined.
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