Nagahiro I, Andou A, Aoe M, Sano Y, Date H, Shimizu N.
Intermittent pneumatic compression is effective in preventing
symptomatic pulmonary embolism after thoracic surgery.
Surg Today. 2004;34(1):6-10.

Department of Cancer and Thoracic Surgery, Okayama University
Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japan.
PURPOSE: Postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a fatal
complication even in thoracic surgery. We have used intermittent
pneumatic compression for the prophylaxis of postoperative PE
since 1998, and herein examined its effectiveness. METHODS:
Seven hundred and six patients, whose medical records showed
use/no use of pneumatic compression for prophylaxis of PE,
underwent general thoracic surgery in our department from
December 1995 to December 2000. Their clinical records were
reviewed, and variables were compared between patients who
experienced clinically apparent PE and patients who did not have
PE. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-four patients did not
receive any prophylactic treatment, and 7 of these (2.0%)
experienced postoperative PE. Three hundred and sixty-two
patients received prophylactic pneumatic compression and none of
these developed PE. There was a statistical correlation between
the occurrence of PE and the application of pneumatic
compression (Chi(2)-test, P = 0.006). Six of the seven patients
with PE were operated on in the right decubitus position, and the
operative position and the prevalence of PE was also significantly
correlated (Chi(2)-test, P = 0.024). Other factors, such as age, sex,
operative time, duration until patients became fully ambulatory,
body mass index, and character of the disease, did not have
significant correlation with the occurrence of PE.
CONCLUSIONS: Pneumatic compression was found to
effectively prevent postoperative PE. The right decubitus position
is considered to be a risk factor for the development of
postoperative PE in thoracic surgery.