Abstract
Graduated compression stockings are frequently used in the prevention of deep venous thrombosis and the treatment of venous insufficiency. Two patients are discussed who sustained ischaemic complications after application of graduated compression stockings. Review of the literature demonstrates that low cutaneous pressures significantly decrease local blood flow and that the amount of pressure exerted by graduated compression stockings increases significantly with increases in leg girth. Ischaemic complications associated with the use of these stockings also appears to be more common than previously thought and any policy of routine prescription to patients should be questioned.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Allan A., Williams J. T., Bolton J. P., Le Quesne L. P. The use of graduated compression stockings in the prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis. Br J Surg. 1983 Mar;70(3):172–174. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800700311. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Callam M. J., Ruckley C. V., Dale J. J., Harper D. R. Hazards of compression treatment of the leg: an estimate from Scottish surgeons. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1987 Nov 28;295(6610):1382–1382. doi: 10.1136/bmj.295.6610.1382. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fasting H., Andersen K., Kraemmer Nielsen H., Husted S. E., Koopmann H. D., Simonsen O., Husegaard H. C., Vestergaard Madsen J., Pedersen T. K. Prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis. Low-dose heparin versus graded pressure stockings. Acta Chir Scand. 1985;151(3):245–248. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Holford C. P. Graded compression for preventing deep venous thrombosis. Br Med J. 1976 Oct 23;2(6042):969–970. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6042.969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Horner J., Lowth L. C., Nicolaides A. N. A pressure profile for elastic stockings. Br Med J. 1980 Mar 22;280(6217):818–820. doi: 10.1136/bmj.280.6217.818. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Johnson G. V. Elastic stockings. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1988 Mar 5;296(6623):720–720. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kay T. W., Martin F. I. Heel ulcers in patients with long-standing diabetes who wear antiembolism stockings. Med J Aust. 1986 Sep 15;145(6):290–291. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb101128.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Scurr J. H., Ibrahim S. Z., Faber R. G., Le Quesne L. P. The efficacy of graduated compression stockings in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Br J Surg. 1977 May;64(5):371–373. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800640521. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WILKINS R. W., STANTON J. R. Elastic stockings in the prevention of pulmonary embolism. II. A progress report. N Engl J Med. 1953 Jun 25;248(26):1087–1090. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195306252482602. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]