Bulitta C, Kock HJ, Hanke J, Sievers KW, Schmit-Neuerburg KP.
[Promoting venous return in plaster cast by AV Impulse system. A preclinical study]
Unfallchirurgie 1996 Aug;22(4):145-52

Abteilung fur Unfallchirurgie, Universitat GHS Essen.

A new pneumatic compression pump--the AV-impulse system--causes increased return of
venous blood from the lower limbs to the heart and increases total blood flow in
the lower limbs by emptying the plantar venous plexus. Up to date there exist no
experiences with using this system in plaster cast. We studied the maximum venous
blood flow, the venous blood flow per minute and the venous diameters above the
popliteal and femoral vein by duplexsonography in 12 lower limbs of 6 healthy
persons before and after applying below-the-knee plaster casts. After applying
the plaster cast we observed a slight increase in venous diameter (p = 0.02). By
using the AV-impulse-system we observed a significant increase in maximum venous
blood flow and venous blood flow per minute (p < 0.05). We demonstrated a
significant increase of venous blood return in the deep veins of the lower limbs
after applying a lower limb plaster cast by using the AV-impulse-system. These
results indicate the possible benefit of using the AV-impulse-system as a
physical method of thromboprophylaxis in orthopaedic and trauma patients with
plaster cast immobilisation of the leg.