Amputation level viability in critical limb ischaemia: setting new standards

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated the successful use of skin oxygen saturation (SO2) measurements to predict the healing viability in lower limb amputations for critical limb ischaemia. The measurements are quick and easy to perform, but the instrument that has been used to date is now obsolete and a new, lightweight, portable instrument has recently been introduced. However, fundamental differences between the two instruments could influence the criteria used for determining amputation level viability. The purpose of this study was to compare the in vivo measurements using the two instruments in order to validate amputation level viability criteria using the RM200. Skin SO2 measurements were carried out on critically ischaemic lower limbs of patients, and on the forearms of normal volunteers during before, during and after a 5 minute period of tourniquet ischaemia. A linear correlation (r2 = 0.91) was found between the values obtained from the two instruments within the range of interest (0 to 40% SO2). Differences between the instruments lay within 1 standard deviation of the mean, demonstrating a high degree of agreement between the two methods. The RM200 is thus an acceptable replacement for the MCPD instrument for amputation level viability assessments.