Cardiosynchronous limb compression: effects on noninvasive vascular tests and clinical course of the ischemic limb

Some patients with chronic arterial obstruction of the limbs may still suffer the consequences of advanced tissue ischemia, including ulceration and rest pain, and face threatened limb loss in spite of available surgical, pharmacologic, and other treatments. Additional therapeutic modalities were thus sought to accomplish limb salvage. A literature review indicated that most reports on R-wave-triggered circumferential limb compression (cardiosynchronous limb compression [CSC]) demonstrate its ability to augment limb arterial blood flow and improve ischemic limbs. To determine the device's efficacy and safety, and possibly confirm earlier positive reports, a systematic study was undertaken, using older, as well as newer, more electronically reliable CSC devices. The present study was designed to determine the following: 1. objectively, by noninvasive vascular tests, changes in limb blood flow, if any, by CSC; 2. clinical effects of CSC, if any, on the ischemic limb; 3. duration of CSC-induced limb improvements, if any; 4. side effects or safety of CSC. The study demonstrated that CSC treatments: 1. caused increased limb blood flow as determined by increased ankle/arm indices and hallux photoplethysmograph waveform amplitudes during treatments; 2. led, in most cases, to improvement in or resolution of the presenting ischemic problem (eg, ulcer, cellulitis, rest pain); 3. induced limb improvements that persist for up to seven years 4. caused no adverse side effects.