title: Effects of intermittent pneumatic compression of the thigh on blood flow velocity in the femoral and popliteal veins: developing a new physical prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis in patients with plaster-cast immobilization of the leg.
abstract: Patients with plaster-cast immobilization of the lower limb have an estimated venous thromboembolism rate of 2.5 % without prophylaxis, which includes many fatal cases. However, there is no practical physical prophylaxis for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression on the thigh alone (IPC to the thigh) on peak blood velocity (PBV) in the legs and to consider the possibility that IPC of the thigh could be used as physical prophylaxis for DVT in patients with plaster-cast immobilization of the lower leg. Nine healthy male volunteers and eighteen elderly males were recruited. We immobilized each subject's right lower leg and ankle with a plaster splint, and applied the ActiveCare+S.F.T.(®) (Medical Compression Systems, Inc.) device to each subject's right thigh. The PBV in the superficial femoral vein (PBVFV) and the popliteal vein (PBVPV) were measured using duplex Doppler ultrasonography. IPC to the thigh resulted in a 2.3-fold increase in PBVFV and a 3.0-fold increase in PBVPV compared with resting at supine in the elderly group. Although IPC to the thigh also increased PBVFV and PBVPV significantly in the sitting position, the change ratios of PBV in the supine and sitting positions were equal (2.6-fold increase in PBVFV and 2.9-fold increase in PBVPV). IPC to the thigh in supine and sitting positions significantly increased PBVFV and PBVPV, and could be a useful prophylaxis for DVT in patients with plaster-cast immobilization of the lower leg.
authors.affiliation: Sensory and Motor Control, Functional Restration Sciences, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan. keisuke3923@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6982-9843
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.affiliation: Sensory and Motor Control, Functional Restration Sciences, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.|Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Naonobu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahira
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaoka-Tojo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory, Kitasato University School of Allied Health Sciences, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katagiri
authors.affiliation: Sensory and Motor Control, Functional Restration Sciences, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara-Shi, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002370:Casts, Surgical; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D048228:Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Blood velocity; Deep vein thrombosis; Intermittent pneumatic compression; Plaster-cast immobilization; Venous thromboembolism