Abstract
Acute effect of postural change on human subcutaneous tissue blood flow in the hand region was studied in normal subjects using the hydrogen washout technique, a system which allows repeated determinations of blood flow rate.
Changing from the supine to the upright position caused decrease of the subcutaneous tissue blood flow in the hand region by approximately 46 per cent. Lowering an arm below heart level reduced that subcutaneous tissue blood flow in the hand region. The subcutaneous tissue blood flow was also found to be reduced in the hand region by raising an arm above heart level.
These findings have important implications in the postoperative mangements following hand surgery.
