title: Effect of graduated compression stockings on venous blood velocity in supine resting hospitalized patients.
abstract: The effects of graduated compression stockings (GCSs) on venous blood velocity were measured in 26 hospitalized medical patients while supine at rest. Peak blood velocity in the right femoral vein was 21.6 cm/s without GCS and 23.0 cm/s with GCS [not significant (NS)]. Peak blood velocity in the right popliteal vein was 12.5 cm/s without GCS and 15.0 cm/s with GCS (NS). Mean blood velocity in the right femoral vein did not increase significantly with GCS, but mean blood velocity in the right popliteal vein increased marginally from 5.0 cm/s to 5.8 cm/s (P = .05). Among 11 patients with venous insufficiency (refilling time ≤19 s), neither peak nor mean blood velocity in the femoral or popliteal veins increased significantly with GCS. In conclusion, thigh-length GCS in hospitalized patients had little or no effect on popliteal or femoral vein blood velocity while supine at rest, irrespective of whether the patients had venous insufficiency.
authors: Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA steinp@msu.edu.
authors: Paul D
authors: PD
authors: Stein
authors: Department of Osteopathic Medical Specialties, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, East Lansing, MI, USA Department of Research, St Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, MI, USA.
authors: Fadi
authors: F
authors: Matta
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, MI, USA.
authors: Mohamed W
authors: MW
authors: Akkad
authors: Department of Medicine, St Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, MI, USA.
authors: Cheryl L
authors: CL
authors: Hoppe
authors: Department of Medicine, St Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, MI, USA.
authors: Yash R
authors: YR
authors: Patel
authors: Department of Medicine, St Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia, MI, USA.
authors: Subburaman
authors: S
authors: Sivakumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012146:Rest; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: deep venous thrombosis; mechanical prophyaxis; venous blood flow; venous thromboembolism