Effects of selective blood and tissue heating on blood flow in the dog hindlimb

This study investigated the effects of independent and combined heating of blood and tissue to 40-44 degrees C on femoral blood flow in the hindlimb of the anaesthetized dog. An increase in arterial blood temperature by means of an extracorporeal circuit increased femoral vascular resistance. An increase in limb tissue temperature, induced by external hot packs, decreased femoral vascular resistance. These responses occurred both before and after sympathetic blockade. Neither blood heating nor tissue heating affected the hyperaemic response to exercise. When blood and tissue heating were combined, femoral vascular resistance remained unaffected. We conclude that changes in blood temperature do not contribute to the hyperaemic effect of limb warming and that exercise combined with limb warming is no more effective as a therapeutic tool for promoting limb flow than exercise alone.