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Evidence for safe tourniquet use in 500 consecutive upper extremity procedures

  • Surgery Articles
  • Published:
HAND

Abstract

Background

Although pneumatic tourniquets are widely used in upper extremity surgery, further evidence is needed to support their safe use. Excessive pressure and prolonged ischemic time can cause soft-tissue injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of tourniquet use in a yearlong, consecutive series of patients.

Methods

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent upper extremity surgery by two board-certified hand surgeons over a 1-year period was performed. Demographic variables, comorbidities, and complications were noted along with tourniquet parameters, including application site, ischemic pressure, and time.

Results

A total 505 patients were included in the study because a tourniquet was used during their operation. Patients ranged in age from 3 months to 90 years old (mean 40.1 years). More than half of the population was overweight (mean body mass index (BMI) 27.1), and 77.1 % of adults had at least one cardiac risk factor. No immediate or delayed tourniquet-related injuries were identified. The average operative time was 35.9 min, with an average tourniquet time of 33.1 min. Tourniquet inflation pressure of 250 or 225 mmHg was utilized in 78 and 21 % of adult patients, respectively; no patients had a pressure setting exceeding 275 mmHg.

Conclusion

In this series of more than 500 operations, there were no immediate or delayed tourniquet-related events using parameters determined perioperatively by the attending surgeon. Tourniquet pressures of 250 mmHg or less in adult patients with less than 2 h of ischemic time appear to be safe, even in the elderly and patients with multiple medical comorbidities.

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Acknowledgments

The study was approved by the Rhode Island Hospital Institutional Review Board.

Conflict of interest

Brian C. Drolet declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Zachary Okhah declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Benjamin Z. Phillips declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Benjamin P. Christian declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Edward Akelman declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Julia Katarincic declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Scott T. Schmidt declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Statement of human and animal rights

No human subjects or animals were involved in this study.

Statement of informed consent

No informed consent was obtained for this retrospective review.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 2 Dudley St, COOP 500, Providence, RI, 02903, USA

    Brian C. Drolet, Zachary Okhah & Scott T. Schmidt

  2. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA

    Benjamin Z. Phillips

  3. Private Practice, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Benjamin P. Christian

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA

    Edward Akelman & Julia Katarincic

Authors
  1. Brian C. Drolet
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  2. Zachary Okhah
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  3. Benjamin Z. Phillips
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  4. Benjamin P. Christian
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  5. Edward Akelman
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  6. Julia Katarincic
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  7. Scott T. Schmidt
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian C. Drolet.

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Drolet, B.C., Okhah, Z., Phillips, B.Z. et al. Evidence for safe tourniquet use in 500 consecutive upper extremity procedures. HAND 9, 494–498 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9667-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11552-014-9667-1

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