Anti-embolism stockings and proximal indentation

The authors of this study noticed that the elastic garters of below knee anti-embolism stockings (AES) were indenting the proximal calves of patients after application and feared this might be interrupting venous return. This was lower on one ward which had a rigorous standardized protocol for sizing and checking stockings. Hypotheses were that proximal indentation caused higher proximal than distal pressures (reverse gradients) and that by adopting the standardized protocol throughout the unit, proximal indentation could be reduced. Fifty-seven patients were recruited after total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) in a regional orthopaedic centre. The authors implemented the standardized protocol for sizing stockings and measured the pressures under them. After implementation of the standardized protocol, proximal indentation fell from 53% to 19% (p<0.05), incorrectly sized stockings from 74% to 34% (p<0.05) and removal of stockings by patients from 32% to 0% (p<0.05). In total, 21% of patients had reverse gradients which occurred in 41% of legs with proximal indentation and 8% without. When reverse gradients or proximal indentation exist, AES may not be as effective and may be counterproductive. A standardized protocol of nursing practice is critical to optimizing AES after THR and TKR. More in-vivo research is needed on AES after hip and knee replacement.