THE EFFECT OF RESPIRATORY MANOEUVRES UPON SKIN OXYGEN TENSION AND BLOOD FLOW

— Oxygen tension at the surface of inflamed skin and alveolar oxygen tension were measured polarographically. Changes in blood flow were indicated by a water perfused thermocouple disc resting on the skin. Breath holding, voluntary hyperventilation, Valsalva's manoeuvre, coughing, Muller's manoeuvre and arterial occlusion all produced transient changes in skin oxygen tension. These could largely be explained in terms of the observed changes in alveolar oxygen tension and skin blood flow.