No abstract

This report presents normal values of venous flow resistance ( Rv) and venous capacity (C10) as measured in human limbs by strain-gauge plethysmography. No age dependency was found for either parameter. Rv was lower in males than in females and lower in left legs than in right legs. C10 was higher in males than in females and higher in left than in right legs. The left-right and sex dependency of the parameters cannot be explained by differences in limb volume. Correlations between selected parameters are presented.

The influence of an elastic stocking upon the venous muscle pump function in a healthy subject and in a patient with chronic venous insufficiency is discussed. Taking into account the alinear relationship between venous pressure and limb volume the experiences concerning the effects of tissue compression, some of which seem to be contradictory, are clarified.

This report presents a study of the methodological aspects of the measurement of venous flow resistance ( Rv) and venous capacity (C10) in human legs as measured by strain-gauge plethysmography. The measurements are reproduceable within 10%, in subjects who are well-acclimatized to a room temperature of 28–30 °C. In measurements at the calf, extension of the knee joint may increase Rv by hundreds of percents, while high passive calf muscle tension may be associated with a decrease in Rv and an increase in C10. Inadequate acclimatization may increase Rv and decrease C10, notably in measurements at the foot. The determinants for Rv and C10 are discussed.

Knowledge of the physiology of wound healing, in particular the recovery of the dermal and epidermal compartments and the co-ordination of these processes by the cytokine network, is of great importance to rational wound management. The individual components of the wound healing process have been studied using various in vitro and in vivo models, comparing young, adult and aged individuals. Many of the processes involved in wound healing are impaired in the elderly. However, in elderly patients not suffering from concomitant diseases, the rate of wound healing is normal or only slightly reduced. Various 'systemic factors' (endocrine and haematological diseases, nutritional deficiencies and medications) and 'regional disorders' (vascular and neural diseases) may impair wound healing. These complicating conditions occur more frequently in aged subjects. Failure of wound healing in the elderly is a chronic disabling condition, which occurs frequently in our society, requiring a major investment of medical care.