Objective Evaluation of Compression Therapy for Deep Vein Thrombosis by Ambulatory Strain-Gauge Plethysmography

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate objectively the effect of compression therapy in patients with different degrees of calf muscle pump impairment following deep vein thrombosis.

Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

Second Department of Surgery, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.

Patients:

Twenty-one lower extremities in 16 patients and 23 lower extremities in 13 healthy control subjects.

Intervention:

Application of standard compression elastic stockings (30–40 mmHg compression at the ankle) and high compression elastic stockings (40–50 mmHg at the ankle) (Sigvaris, Sweden).

Main outcome measures:

Comparison of expelled volume measured by ambulatory strain-gauge plethysmography.

Results:

Calf pump function after deep vein thrombosis was classified into three grades (normal, compensated and failed) by the expelled volume. The expelled volume increased from 0.4 ml/dl (SD 0.2) to 0.9 ml/dl (SD 0.5) following the application of strong compression.

Conclusion:

Compression therapy is haemodynamically effective only when using strong compression (40–50 mmHg) in patients with post-thrombotic syndrome.