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Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Author Spotlight: Assessing the Reliability of Doppler Ultrasound in Measuring Leg Blood Flow
Published on: December 15, 2023
Superior hemodynamic performance of a thigh-length versus knee-length intermittent pneumatic compression device
Robert B Patterson1, Paul Cardullo1
1Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI.
Objective:
There is a lack of consensus regarding which length of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) device provides optimal thromboprophylaxis. This trial was conducted to compare hemodynamic performance of a thigh-length and knee-length IPC device. The hypothesis is that thigh-length IPC will be more efficient in preventing stasis.
Methods:
This single-center trial tested the thigh-length sleeve (TLS) and knee-length sleeve (KLS) in 47 healthy volunteers. Peak systolic velocity and total volume flow were measured at rest and during the 11-second compression cycle. Measurements were obtained at the popliteal vein for the KLS and at the common femoral vein for the TLS.
Results:
The study was completed by 47 volunteers (32 women, 15 men), who were a mean age of 39.7 years (range, 18-68 years). There was a statistically significant difference in augmented total volume flow and peak systolic velocity between the KLS and TLS favoring the TLS: median total volume flow was 357.54 mL/min for the KLS vs 668.21 mL/min for the TLS (P < .0001), and median peak systolic velocity was 47.70 cm/s for the KLS vs 58.47 cm/s for the TLS (P = .0019).
Conclusions:
This trial suggests that the improved hemodynamic effects of a thigh-length IPC system may provide superior thromboprophylaxis to a knee-length IPC.
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