Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Sympathetic Nerve Blocks and Prostaglandin E₁ Infusion on Facial Superficial Skin Blood Flow

Kyoko Takahashi, Noriki Saito and Masato Masutani

Department of Anesthesiology and Hyperbaric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan

Hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) induces vasoconstriction, which reduces both peripheral tissue blood flow and cardiac output. We used laser doppler flowmetry to evaluate the effects of stellate ganglion block (SGB), epidural cervical block (EPD) and prostaglandin E₁ (PGE₁)-infusion on facial superficial circulation when these vasodilating treatments were combined with HBO. In room air at 1 atmosphere absolute pressure (ATA), SGB, EPD and PGE₁-infusion all significantly increased superficial circulation [SGB: 116.4 ± 21.5% as mean ± SD (n=17), EPD: 102.0 ± 3.5% (n=15) and PGE₁: 105.2 ± 10.3% (n=25), respectively from 100%] after 10 min of the administration (stage II). Under HBO, superficial circulation significantly decreased from the baseline value (100%) in all groups studied during HBO at every stage monitored, except for the SGB group at stage III (5 min of 2.8 ATA-100% O₂ breathing) which showed a significantly higher flow rate than the control group. Conclusively, none of the interventions attempted in this study successfully counteracted the reduced skin blood flow induced by HBO.

Key words: epidural block; facial superficial skin blood flow; hyperbaric oxygen therapy; prostaglandin E₁; stellate ganglion block

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