Authors' recommendations: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot, or thrombus, that forms in a deep vein most commonly in the legs. DVT is serious since the clot can dislodge and travel through the bloodstream as an embolus. If it travels through the heart and into the pulmonary circulation blocking oxygenated blood from reaching lung tissue, it creates a life-threatening condition known as pulmonary embolism (PE). These combined events of DVT and PE constitute a venous thromboembolism (VTE). Prophylactic measures include early ambulation, compression stockings, thrombolytics and pneumatic compression. Pneumatic compression devices generally consist of an inflatable garment for the limb, an electrical pneumatic pump that fills the garment with compressed air, and a control panel that controls the inflation cycle times and pressure. The garment is intermittently inflated and deflated with cycle times and pressures that vary among devices. The compression provided by these devices increases the speed of blood flow in the veins, which aids in decreasing the risk of blood clot formation. Pneumatic compression devices have been used in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease, venous and arterial ulcers, and lymphedema, as well as for prevention of VTE including DVT and PE. Standard pneumatic compression devices are not portable and impede patient mobility.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2014

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=16266

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2014 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc