EFFECT OF PRESSURE BREATHING ON BLOOD FLOW THROUGH THE FINGER

Abstract

Blood flow through the finger is measured by a plethysmograph recording optically and a pneumatic cuff around the base of the finger. When the cuff is inflated a falling plunger is released which automatically obstructs the recording light beam after a constant interval of a few sec. Thus the height of the upstroke on the record is a direct measure of the rate of flow of blood. With this method it is shown that positive pressure breathing decreases the rate of flow through the fingers.