Related Experiment Videos
Development of gangrene during sleep
1Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery T, Aalborg, Denmark.
Summary
Subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (SBF) in the forefoot shows distinct 24-hour patterns. Normal SBF doubles at night, while reduced SBF in ischemic pain patients indicates critical blood flow reduction during sleep.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Physiology
- Peripheral Circulation Research
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Subcutaneous adipose tissue blood flow (SBF) is crucial for tissue health.
- Understanding diurnal SBF variations is key to diagnosing peripheral artery disease.
- Nocturnal blood flow changes are particularly relevant for ischemic pain conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a method for continuous 24-hour measurement of forefoot SBF.
- To investigate diurnal SBF patterns in healthy individuals and patients with ischemic rest pain.
- To correlate SBF changes with peripheral circulation status and nocturnal hypotension.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the 133-Xenon radioisotope washout principle for SBF measurement.
- Employed a portable semiconductor detector placed over a localized 133-Xenon depot in the forefoot.
- Corrected elimination rate constants for convection and diffusion due to short detector distance.
Main Results:
- Normal subjects exhibited a doubling of SBF from day to night, linked to sympathetic axon reflex.
- Patients with ischemic rest pain showed a 37% average reduction in SBF from day to night.
- Reduced nocturnal SBF in ischemic patients correlated with systemic mean arterial blood pressure drops and nocturnal hypotension.
Conclusions:
- Diurnal SBF patterns differ significantly between healthy individuals and those with ischemic rest pain.
- Nocturnal hypotension and reduced SBF during sleep may precipitate tissue damage and gangrene in susceptible patients.
- The described method provides valuable insights into peripheral circulation dynamics and disease progression.