Heel Blood Flow During Loading and Off-Loading in Bedridden Older Adults With Low and Normal Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index: A Quasi-Experimental Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences in heel blood flow during loading and off-loading in bedridden adults older than 65 years. The patients were divided into three groups based on ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) and transcutaneous oxygen tension (tcPO2): (1) patients with an ABI ≥ 0.8 (Group A); (2) patients with an ABI < 0.8 and heel tcPO2 ≥ 10 mmHg (Group B); and (3) patients with an ABI < 0.8 and heel tcPO2 < 10 mmHg (Group C). Heel blood flow was monitored using tcPO2 sensors. Data were collected with the heel (1) suspended above the bed surface (preload), (2) on the bed surface for 30 min (loading), and (3) again suspended above the bed surface for 60 min (off-loading). Heel blood flow during off-loading was assessed using three parameters: oxygen recovery index (ORI), total tcPO2 for the first 10 min, and change in tcPO2 after 60 min of off-loading. ORI in Group C (n = 8) was significantly shorter than in Groups A (n = 22) and B (n = 15). Total tcPO2 for the first 10 min of off-loading in Group C was significantly less than that in Groups A and B. Change in tcPO2 after 60 min of off-loading in Group C was less than in Group A. Based on these findings, additional preventive care against heel blood flow decrease in older adults with an ABI < 0.8 and heel tcPO2 < 10 mmHg might be necessary after loading.