Changes in femoral vein blood flow velocity by intermittent pneumatic compression: calf compression device versus plantar-calf sequential compression device.
Intermittent pneumatic compression has become widely used to prevent deep venous thrombosis potentially causing fatal pulmonary embolism. Although uniform compression has been commonly applied, a new method of sequential compression from plantar to calf has recently been developed. In this report, changes in maximum blood flow velocity in the femoral vein were compared with compression of only the calf uniformly and compression from plantar to calf sequentially in 10 healthy adult volunteers. A compression pressure of 60 mm Hg was applied for 5 min, and the velocity was measured before and after this treatment by ultrasound echography. There was no statistically significant difference in the change in maximum velocity between calf compression and plantar-calf sequential compression. The maximum velocity increased significantly with both compressions. However, plantar-calf sequential compression tended to have a greater effect. Although the results did not demonstrate an advantage of plantar-calf sequential compression compared with calf compression only, if the former compression is applied for a long time, it may have a greater effect.
Department of Anesthesiology, Central Aizu General Hospital, 1-1 Tsuruga-machi, 965-0011 Aizuwakamatsu, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Iwama
Shinju
S
Obara
Hiroshi
H
Ohmizo
D000328:Adult; D001458:Bandages; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control*