Lawrence D, Kakkar VV.
Graduated, static, external compression of the lower limp: a physiological assessment.
Br J Surg. 1980 Feb;67(2):119-21

A five-chambered pneumatic vinyl sleeve was used to determine the optimum
pressure range of graduated, static, external compression of the lower limb,
which would be most beneficial in increasing deep venous velocity. The effects of
four different ranges of pressure upon deep venous velocity (technetium-99), calf
muscle blood flow (xenon-133) and subcutaneous tissue flow (sodium-24) were
measured in recumbent patients. The pressure range 18, 14, 8, 10, 8 mmHg produced
a significant increase in mean deep venous velocity (P less than 0.02) without
any consequent impairment of either calf muscle blood flow or subcutaneous tissue
flow. A higher pressure range of 30, 26, 14, 18, 12 mmHg also produced an
increase in mean deep venous velocity, but caused a significant impairment of
calf subcutaneous tissue flow.