Rheocarna(®) therapy after distal bypass surgery

Objectives: Rheocarna(®) therapy has recently been reported to improve peripherally measured blood flow as an adjuvant treatment after revascularization in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. We investigated whether skin perfusion pressure and continuous walking distance were improved by performing Rheocarna(®) therapy after distal bypass surgery. Methods: This study included 10 patients who underwent Rheocarna(®) therapy after distal bypass surgery between June 2022 and March 2023. Rheocarna(®) therapy was performed five times after distal bypass surgery, and the skin perfusion pressure and continuous walking distance after distal bypass surgery were compared with those after Rheocarna(®) therapy. Results: The average age was 74.7 years, and nine patients (90%) were male. All patients were undergoing dialysis, with an average of 14.5 years of dialysis history. There were six patients (60%) with diabetes mellitus and five (50%) with hyperlipidemia. The ankle-brachial index was 0.62 ± 0.36 before distal bypass surgery and 0.936 ± 0.16 after Rheocarna(®) therapy, indicating a significant increase (p = 0.0117). Skin perfusion pressure dorsalis pedis was 71.5 ± 27.0 mmHg after Rheocarna(®) therapy, showing a marked increase from the preoperative value (p = 0.0020). Skin perfusion pressure planta pedis was 65.0 ± 26.3 mmHg after Rheocarna(®) therapy, which was a significant increase from the preoperative value (p = 0.0293). The continuous walking distance was 78.5 ± 102.7 m after the Rheocarna(®) therapy, which was a significant increase from the preoperative value (p = 0.0039). Conclusion: The skin perfusion pressure and continuous walking distance were significantly improved by Rheocarna(®) therapy after distal bypass surgery.