Near-infrared spectroscopy and transcutaneous oxygen pressure during exercise to detect arterial ischemia at the buttock level: comparison with arteriography.

Background: Noninvasive tests are required to detect (in both male and female subjects and side by side) arteries toward the hypogastric circulation that are likely to present significant lesions as a cause of buttock claudication.

Methods: We compared the accuracy of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TCP o 2 ) on both buttocks during walking tests to detect lesions on the arteries toward the hypogastric circulation. NIRS was considered abnormal if recovery time to pre-exercise values was greater than 240 seconds for tissue oxygen saturation (absent data being coded 0), and TCP o 2 was coded abnormal if the minimal value of buttock changes minus chest changes was lower than -15 mm Hg.

Pain description in patients with isolated proximal (without distal) exercise-related lower limb arterial ischemia.

Among the last 250 claudicants referred to the laboratory for transcutaneous oxygen pressure recording at exercise, we analyzed the symptoms reported by the 36 patients who showed isolated proximal (without distal) ischemia. Among the symptomatic proximal sites cited by these patients, the hip and thigh represent 60%, whereas the buttock is cited in fewer than 25% of cases. Buttock symptoms are reported in only 31% of symptomatic patients.