Morris RJ, Woodcock JP.
Effects of supine intermittent compression on arterial inflow to the lower limb.
Arch Surg 2002 Nov;137(11):1269-73

Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University of Wales College of
Medicine, Cardiff, Wales. morrisrj@cf.ac.uk

HYPOTHESIS: Intermittent pneumatic compression will affect the arterial blood
flow in the lower limb at moderate pressure, without requiring dependency.
DESIGN: Before-after trial. SETTING: Vascular ultrasound unit of a university
hospital. PATIENTS: A volunteer sample of 19 healthy subjects without symptoms or
history of vascular disease and 17 patients with peripheral arterial disease were
studied. Six patients and 1 healthy volunteer were not included in the study
group because of measurement difficulties or refusal when approached.
INTERVENTIONS: Common femoral artery blood flow velocities were measured with
Doppler ultrasound during 10 minutes of intermittent compression of the calf and
thigh at 60 mm Hg, while the subject was supine. The data were collected every 5
seconds from 4 minutes before to 4 minutes after the therapy period, and toe
temperatures were also measured with an infrared radiometer. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Resting to postcompression percentage increases in flow velocity were
measured, along with more representative measures of the total flow change during
the intermittent compression period. RESULTS: On compression, the blood flow
velocity decreased slightly (15% in healthy subjects and 6% in patients) and
increased on release (21% and 29%, respectively). Overall, blood flow did not
decrease during therapy as expected (increases of 1% and 2%, respectively), and
the toes of the patients warmed (by 2.2 degrees C). CONCLUSIONS: This work
confirms the initial hypothesis in both subject groups. There appears to be
physiological justification for investigating intermittent compression as a
therapy for patients with intermittent claudication and rest pain in the supine
position as well as seated.