Subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension falls during hemodialysis

The effect of hemodialysis on subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension was studied in nine patients. During hemodialysis, blood pressure decreased, pulse increased, and all patients lost weight. Arterial blood oxygen tension fell insignificantly, from 79 to 73 mm Hg. Subcutaneous oxygen tension decreased from 52 to 28 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). Because adequate tissue oxygenation is necessary for wound healing and resistance to infection, we postulate that hemodialysis may contribute to the wound morbidity frequently seen in dialyzed patients.