A simple test that measures oxygen levels under the skin of the buttocks can help detect impaired blood flow in the pelvic area.

Some people who complain of pelvic and lower limb pain may be suffering from pelvic ischemia - impaired blood flow in the iliac artery, which is the branch of the aorta supplying the lower body. Researchers at the University Hospital of Angers, France, now report on a simple method of determining who may have pelvic ischemia.

The method is called transcutaneous oxygen pressure and involves placing a simple sensor on the skin of the buttocks. This shows how much oxygen is being delivered to the area, and is a measure of blood circulation. The test was carried out on 43 patients suspected of having pelvic ischemia, and 34 patients not thought to have the disorder. All were given a conventional test for pelvic ischemia, which involves injecting a dye into the arteries to visualize any blockages.

The transcutaneous oxygen pressure method was 90 per cent accurate in detecting blockages, and 81 per cent accurate in ruling them out when they weren't actually present. In other words, this is a promising new technique for assessing symptoms that could be due to pelvic ischemia.

Source

Circulation 1st April 2003