The following is a summary of “Extremity tourniquets raise blood pressure and maintain heart rate,” published in the March 2023 issue of Emergency Medicine by Seigler, et al.

Since ancient times, people have adapted and applied tourniquets to obstruct blood flow and control bleeding. The blockage of peripheral veins had more recently been associated with increases in blood pressure, which may provide further therapeutic potential, especially in conditions of poor cardiac output. For a study, researchers sought to determine any possible links between using a tourniquet and healthy persons’ blood pressure.

To take part in the IRB-approved study, healthy adult participants were sought. Each individual had baseline normotension and satisfied the inclusion criteria. Pre- and post-tourniquet administration to the bilateral legs, brachial cuff blood pressure, and heart rate were measured.

27 people between the ages of 22 and 35 took part, and their data were included in the study. Systolic blood pressure was typically 122 ± 7  mmHg, diastolic blood pressure was typically 72± 9 mmHg, and heart rate was typically 70 ±13 bpm. Following the administration of a bilateral tourniquet over the femoral vasculature, they saw an increase in systolic (7 mmHg, P< 0.001) and diastolic (4 mmHg, P = 0.05) blood pressure but no change in heart rate (2 bpm, P > 0.05).

Tourniquet application to the lower extremities and blood pressure rise were correlated, as seen by the increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The findings may provide new justifications for the use of tourniquets or extremity artery closure in situations involving hemodynamic instability.

Reference: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735675722007744