Turpie AG, Gallus A, Beattie WS, Hirsh J.
Prevention of venous thrombosis in patients with intracranial disease by
intermittent pneumatic compression of the calf.
Neurology 1977 May;27(5):435-8

In a randomized study of 128 patients, we evaluated intermittent pneumatic
compression of the calf in the prevention of leg scan-detected venous thrombosis
in intracranial disease. Pneumatic compression of the calf for 5 days reduced
the rate of venous thrombosis from 12 of 63 control patients (19.1 percent)
to one of 65 patients (1.5 percent) given prophylaxis (p = 0.00082). In patients who had
craniotomy for brain tumor, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or subdural hematomas,
calf compression reduced the incidence of venous thrombosis from nine of 49
control patients (18.4 percent) to one of 53 patients (1.9 percent) given prophylaxis
(p - 0.0051). In patients who remained at risk after 5 days, the rate of
venous thrombosis was no different in the control group than in the group
that had received prophylaxis.