Severity of ischemia at the tissue level with the chance of the wound healing versus the risk of losing the limb can be detected and measured by measuring the pressure of Oxygen (O2) at the tissue level in any part of the limb that is at risk. This is done using the transcutaneous probe provided with the TC400 machine that measures the pressure of O2 in the tissues under the skin. We have designed a protocol based on international recommendations that measures the partial pressure of O2 at a given spot in different positions of the limb i.e.
lying flat, sitting position and on elevation at 45o and detects a limb that is at risk of developing wounds that do not heal, measures severity of ischemia with the need for a revascularization procedure and the risk that a wound at a given level may not heal by itself or an amputation performed at a particular level may or may not heal. This is very useful in deciding which limbs need revascularization for wounds to heal or to decide level of amputation before it is actually performed.