Tourniquet pressure in orthopaedic surgery

Tourniquets are compressive devices used in ORs to temporarily restrict blood flow to limbs and create a bloodless surgical field.
Help identify structures
Reduce operating time
Decrease blood loss and surgical complications
Common in orthopedics and plastics
Upper extremity should be inflated to at least 50 mm Hg above SBP
Lower extremity (thigh tourniquet) should be inflated to at least 100 mm Hg above systolic blood pressure
Complications associated with overinflation include arterial vasospasm, venous thrombosis, nerve injury
Tourniquet pressures used in the operating room may differ depending on surgeon preference and practice