Nicolaides AN, Miles C, Hoare M, Jury P, Helmis E, Venniker R.
Intermittent sequential pneumatic compression of the legs and
thromboembolism-deterrent stockings in the prevention of postoperative deep
venous thrombosis.
Surgery 1983 Jul;94(1):21-5

One hundred fifty patients over the age of 30 who had undergone major abdominal
operations were stratified according to the risk of deep venous thrombosis and
randomized into three groups to receive different prophylactic regimens: group A,
electrical calf stimulation; group B, low-dose subcutaneous heparin; group C,
intermittent sequential compression and thromboembolism-deterrent (TED)
stockings. All the patients were scanned with the 125I-fibrinogen test for the
whole stay in hospital. The incidence of 125I-fibrinogen detected deep venous
thrombi was 18% in group A, 9% in group B, and 4% in group C. The results
indicate that the regimen of intermittent sequential compression and TED
stockings is as effective as low-dose subcutaneous heparin. Electrical calf
stimulation is less effective.