Thermovisual evaluation of vascular behavior in the paretic upper limb after local cryostimulation in stroke patients

Zbigniew Śliwiński, Piotr Plaza

Zbigniew Śliwiński, Piotr Plaza – Thermovisual evaluation of vascular behavior in the paretic upper limb after local cryostimulation in stroke patients. Fizjoterapia Polska 2002; 2(2); 112-117

Abstract
Background. Stroke is the third most common cause of death, one of the most common causes of handicap, and the most common cause of disability among persons older than 40. Each year 4.6 million people around the world die from strokes, including 3.2 million in developing countries and 1.2 million in highly industrialized countries. In view of the high morbidity rate and the serious consequences of stroke, in the form of limb paresis, the authors decided to use a thermovision camera to check vascular reactions in the paretic limb by evaluating temperature changes on the skin subsequent to cryostimulation by liquid nitrogen vapors. Material and methods. Our research involved 28 patients with an average age of 61.3 years. The procedure was performed on the forearm of the paretic upper limb, which was cooled for 6 minutes (from the hand to the elbow cavity, the dorsal surface and the palm surface). Thermovision images were made 5 times for each patient. Results. The authors observed that as a result of the procedure the temperature of the cooled limb went down 12°C, and 2.6°C in the other limb. Conclusions. The results cannot be easily interpreted. In the authors’ opinion, the temperature reduction in the limb that was not cooled results from contralateralization of the consensual reflex. The present study is a preliminary report describing the phenomenon we observed.

Key words:
Stroke, Cryostimulation, thermovision, vascular behavior

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