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Effects of intermittent pneumatic calf compression in normal and postphlebitic legs
1Vascular Surgery Sections, Sepulveda, VA Medical Center, CA.
The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Intermittent pneumatic compression devices effectively increase blood flow in both normal and postphlebitic legs. Proper cuff placement is crucial for optimal performance of these venous compression systems.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
- Physiology
Background:
- Postphlebitic syndrome can impair venous return.
- Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) is used to enhance venous blood flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of three different IPC devices on common femoral vein flow.
- To compare IPC device performance in normal versus postphlebitic legs.
Main Methods:
- Doppler velocity detector used to measure blood flow changes.
- Evaluated 20 normal legs and 20 with postphlebitic syndrome.
- Measured mean and peak velocity increases as a percentage of baseline.
Main Results:
- All IPC devices accelerated venous flow in the leg.
- No significant difference in peak velocity increase between normal and postphlebitic legs.
- Mean velocity increases varied between devices, but all were effective in both leg types.
Conclusions:
- IPC devices are effective in augmenting venous flow, even in legs with postphlebitic syndrome.
- Correct cuff application is critical for IPC effectiveness, potentially explaining some treatment failures.
- Different IPC device designs demonstrate varying impacts on mean venous velocity.