Exsanguination of lower limbs in healthy male subjects

Gamma camera technique was used to assess the effectiveness of various exsanguination methods in 12 healthy male volunteers given an autologous injection of 99mTc-labeled erythrocytes. The methods used included elevation alone, Esmarch bandage, gauze bandage, and the Pomidor roll-cuff. The median times spent on use of these methods were: Esmarch 85 sec, gauze 104 sec, and Pomidor roll-cuff 18 sec. The various exsanguination methods caused a median percentage reduction in regional blood volume of the lower limbs: elevation 1/2 minute 45%, 1 minute 45%, 2 minutes 42%, 4 minutes 44%, 6 minutes 43%, 10 minutes 44%, Esmarch bandage 64%, gauze bandage 62%, and Pomidor roll-cuff 61%. No statistically significant differences were found between the elevation procedures. The external methods were more effective than elevation alone (p < 0.001).