The deleterious effects of exsanguination with a tight bandage on tourniquet tolerance in the upper arm.

Tourniquet tolerance is affected by the method of exsanguination. Two commonly used methods, tight elastic bandaging and limb elevation, were tested to determine their effects on upper extremity tourniquet tolerance in 23 healthy adult volunteers. We found that tourniquet tolerance was significantly lower among the bandaging group compared with the limb elevation group (average 19.4 min and 24.1 min, respectively). Overall, the tourniquet tolerance was not affected by hand dominance or arm circumference.