Immersing Feet in Carbon Dioxide-enriched Water Prevents Expansion and Formation of Ischemic Ulcers after Surgical Revascularization in Diabetic Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the effect of immersion of feet in CO2-enriched water for preventing expansion and formation of ischemic ulcer in critical limb ischemia of diabetic patients after surgical revascularization. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eligible patients were allocated CO2 group (CO2 immersion plus standard care) or control group (standard care alone) and were followed up for 3 months after surgical revascularization. The end point is defined as an expansion of a target ulcer (more than 101% of original size) or the formation of new ulcers during the follow-up period. RESULTS Fifty-nine patients out of originally enrolled 66 patients with type II diabetes were included in intention-to-treat population. The cumulative prevention rate for ischemic ulcer after 3 months was 97.1% in the CO2 group, while, in the control group, it was 77.8%, i.e., significantly lower than the CO2 group (P = 0.012, log-rank test). The transcutaneous oxygen pressure increased significantly only in the CO2 group, from 56 ± 14 to 63 ± 15 mmHg (P < 0.01, Wilcoxon signed rank test), in 3 months. CONCLUSION These results suggest that addition of CO2 immersion to standard care of critical limb ischemia in diabetic patients improves early postoperative outcome after vascular surgery.