Caffeine consumption does not have an effect on digital microvascular perfusion assessed by laser doppler imaging on healthy volunteers: a pilot study

• Published in: The Journal of hand surgery, European volume Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 412 - 415
• Main Authors: Knight, R., Pagkalos, J., Timmons, C., Jose, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Adult; Caffeine - pharmacology; Cardiovascular Agents - pharmacology; Fingers - blood supply; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Microvessels - drug effects; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Young Adult; replantation; caffeine; Blood-flow; microperfusion; laser-doppler
• ISSN: 1753-1934; 2043-6289
• DOI: 10.1177/1753193414549519

Caffeine is one of the most commonly consumed pharmacologically active ingredients in the Western world. It is postulated to cause peripheral vasoconstriction and decreased digital blood flow. As a result, many hand surgeons forbid caffeine consumption post-operatively by patients undergoing replantation surgery for fear of compromising healing. We hypothesized that caffeine has no effect on digital microvascular perfusion. Healthy volunteers were recruited and digital microperfusion was assessed using laser Doppler probes attached to the finger pulp, both before and after ingestion of 100 mg of caffeine. A total of 34 patients were included in the final study. The mean flow before the consumption of caffeine was 226.15 PU. The mean flow following the consumption of caffeine was 197.7 PU. This decrease was not statistically significant. This study revealed no decrease in digital blood flow following the ingestion of 100 mg of caffeine by healthy volunteers, as measured by laser Doppler flow monitoring.
Level of Evidence: 3