Tourniquet Pain: The Response to the Maintenance of Tourniquet Inflation on the Upper Extremity of Volunteers

This investigation examined the effect of three factors--tourniquet width, tourniquet inflation pressure, and application of the tourniquet to the left or right extremity--on the intensity of tourniquet pain and duration of tourniquet inflation, as well as the circulatory effects associated with maintenance of inflation of a pneumatic tourniquet on an upper extremity of 12 healthy, unmedicated volunteers. All subjects manifested a time-dependent circulatory response to maintenance of tourniquet inflation, characterized by increases in heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The mean duration of tourniquet inflation was 34 +/- 13 minutes (mean +/- SD). No difference was demonstrated with respect to the width of the tourniquet, the tourniquet inflation pressure, or the application of the tourniquet to the left or right extremity on the intensity of pain or the duration of tourniquet inflation.