Vascular Compression Devices Reduce Thrombus Formation

Novel vascular compression devices decrease the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) formation in patients at risk.

The Flowtron range of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices mimic the natural physiological muscle pump created during walking, thus increasing both the volume and rate of blood flow through the limb, and eliminating venous stasis. The use of the IPC device also delivers dual benefits of suppressing procoagulant activation and enhancing global fibrinolysis. The system has a simple three-in-one design that provides a choice of foot, calf, or thigh compression from a single pump. A fail-safe feature offers single and dual compression; if a problem is detected on one side, compression continues on the other.


The system is designed to achieve a high level of patient acceptance by using an ultra-quiet pump for noise reduction and lightweight, breathable fabrics that provide maximum comfort by preventing build-up of heat and moisture. Other features of the systems include auto garment recognition (the system adjusts pressure automatically according to garment type), hook and loop fixings to ensure a secure and snug fit, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) user interface that provides instant feedback, clearly indicating system set-up, therapy status, and actual pressure delivered. An integrated battery maintains prophylaxis during patient transport. The Flowtron range of IPC devices are a product of ArjoHuntleigh (Lund, Sweden).

DVT commonly affects the leg veins (such as the femoral vein, the popliteal vein, or the iliofemoral vein), or the deep veins of the pelvis. A DVT can occur without symptoms, but in many cases, the affected extremity will be painful, swollen, red, and warm, and the superficial veins may be engorged. The most serious complication of a DVT is that the clot could dislodge and travel to the lungs, which is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). DVT is a medical emergency and untreated lower extremity DVT has a 3% PE-related mortality rate.

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