Oxygen saturation measurement of calf muscle during exercise in intermittent claudication

Abstract

Objectives: to evaluate the oxygen saturation of the calf muscle measured by means of spatially resolved spectroscopy (SRS) in claudicants. Methods: a total of 150 legs in 84 consecutive patients with calf claudication were studied by SRS. Oxygen saturation (SmO2) and the relative changes in oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxygenated haemoglobin (Hb) of the gastrocnemius muscle were measured during a treadmill walking test (2.4km/h, 12%, 5 min) Results: exercise was associated with a decrease in HbO2 and an increase in Hb. There was no difference in SmO2 at rest among all groups. The decrease oxygen saturation correlated well with the severity of symptoms of IC. Conclusion: muscle oxygen saturation measurement by SRS can be used clinically to provide objective information regarding the severity of IC. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.