title: Are sequential compression devices commonly associated with in-hospital falls? A myth-busters review using the patient safety net database.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sequential compression devices (SCDs) help prevent deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients; however, clinicians often decline to use this therapy because of a perceived increased risk for patient falls. There is limited information regarding the association between the use of SCDs and patient falls. In this study, we analyze if SCD use is a common risk factor for in-hospital falls.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Patient Safety Net event reporting system at our university-affiliated hospital to retrospectively quantify reports of SCD-related falls over a nearly 5-year period (July 1, 2004, through May 25, 2009). The primary outcome was to determine how often SCD-related falls occurred in relation to SCD patient days. Secondary aims of this study included an assessment of the severity of SCD-related falls, as well as potential risk factors for such falls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three thousand five hundred sixty-two total falls were reported during our study period, 16 of which (0.45%) were SCD-related falls. There were 0.063 SCD-related falls per 1000 SCD patient days or 1 fall for every 15,774 SCD patient days. The mean age of patients was 57.8 ± 14.4 years, 69% were male subjects, 81% were on a surgical ward, and 69% occurred while attempting to toilet. Only 2 of the SCD-related falls caused temporary harm that required intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sequential compression device use is rarely associated with in-hospital patient falls, and SCD-related falls are not more harmful than other types of falls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boelig
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Streiff
authors.forename: Deborah B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hobson
authors.forename: Peggy S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pronovost
authors.forename: Elliott R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Haut
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015142:Baltimore; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012308:Risk Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult