Antiembolism stockings

An exploratory study was undertaken to trial various stocking aids designed for use with compression and antiembolic hosiery. Their features were identified and assessed by professionals for ease of use. Factors affecting the choice of stocking aids were the style and grade of stockings and the physical ability of users.

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BACKGROUND: This was a randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of a 'blanket' protocol of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and the best length of antiembolism stocking, for every patient requiring surgery under general anaesthesia. METHODS: Of 426 patients interviewed, 376 agreed to be randomized to receive one of three types of stocking: thigh-length Medi thrombexin climax (Medi UK, Hereford, UK), knee-length thrombexin climax and thigh-length Kendall T...

BACKGROUND: Medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at moderate risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prophylaxis against VTE is recommended. OBJECTIVES: To observe the range and frequency of VTE prophylaxis administered to medical ICU patients and to determine factors associated with different strategies in French and Canadian ICUs. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional observational study. RESULTS: 113/251 (45...

OBJECT: Evidence-based reviews support the use of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in the form of compression devices and/or stockings for patients undergoing craniotomy. In patients undergoing craniotomy with motor mapping for glioma, the contralateral lower extremity should remain visible so that motor responses can be accurately identified. As a consequence, these patients could be placed at a higher risk to develop VTE. The authors have quantified the incidence of VTE in patients undergoing craniotomy with motor mapping and have shown that there is no increased risk of developing a VTE in the contralateral lower extremity when compression devices are not used...

Knee-length and thigh-length antiembolism (AE) stockings are used to prevent deep vein thrombosis in medical and surgical patients who are at risk because of periods of immobilization while in hospital. The aim of this review was to compare the effectiveness of both lengths of stocking and consider the implications for nursing practice. An electronic search was performed using Medline and Cinahl and a hand search was also conducted. Four studies and a literature review were selected. These studies indicated that knee-length AE stockings were equally effective as were associated with better patient compliance and were more cost-effective than thigh-length stockings...

Acute stroke is a medical emergency. The outcome is influenced by the rapidity and quality of initial care, which is best delivered by specialists with appropriate facilities, including 24 h access to computed tomography. Stroke management requires attention to simple details and has been summarised in clinical guidelines. General measures include control of blood glucose concentration, temperature, fluid balance, and oxygenation. Blood-pressure management is a matter for continuing research. Aspirin should be started early in ischaemic stroke, but heparin has doubtful value; antiembolism stockings may be preferable...

OBJECTIVES: To compare the safety and effectiveness of two different thromboprophylactic protocols in the management of patients with spinal cord injury - one using heparin/warfarin and the other using enoxaparin. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Unit, Sheffield, UK. METHODS: Retrospective review of two cohorts of patients with acute spinal injury admitted to a supra-regional spinal injuries centre and treated with different pharmacological agents...

Potential complications of reduced mobility in both acute and chronically ill patients continue to challenge nurses on a daily basis. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the most serious of these complications. Graduated compression stockings, also known as antiembolism stockings, are among the most commonly available and accepted methods of external compression for the prophylaxis of DVT. Currently, there are 2 lengths of graduated compression stockings in common use, thigh-length and below-knee. Although thigh-length stockings are widely perceived to be more effective in prophylaxis, difficulties associated with therapeutic application and maintenance are often encountered in different clinical settings...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The use of compression and antiembolic hosiery is widespread in hospital and community settings, but there is wide variation in almost every aspect of selection and prescribing practice. In some localities pharmacists or appliance officers are responsible for selecting a suitable stocking for patients, whereas in others it may be left to medical staff. Anecdotally, there is a lack of knowledge about when and what is safe to prescribe relative to the underlying disorder. This is compounded by discrepancy between the level of compression provided by stockings made according to the European method, and that prescribable under the UK Drug Tariff in primary care...

INTRODUCTION: Questions regarding which patients require prophylaxis for thromboembolism, what methods should be used and the appropriate duration of treatment remain unanswered. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective review from a single academic medical center was undertaken to evaluate prophylactic strategies. Multiple sources of data were used to identify patients who were prophylaxed and those who developed deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. These data were analyzed to determine factors associated with successful prophylaxis including age, type of prophylaxis and admitting services...

HYPOTHESIS: Laparoscopic gastric bypass (GBP) induces a postoperative hypercoagulable state that is similar or reduced compared with open GBP. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Between May 1999 and June 2000, 70 patients were randomly assigned to laparoscopic (n = 36) or open (n = 34) GBP. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis consisted of antiembolism stockings and sequential pneumatic compression devices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasminogen, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragment 1...

Potential complications of reduced mobility in both acute and chronically ill patients continue to challenge nurses on a daily basis. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is one of the most serious of these complications. Graduated compression stockings, also known as antiembolism stockings, are among the most commonly available and accepted methods of external compression for the prophylaxis of DVT. Currently, there are 2 lengths of graduated compression stockings in common use, thigh-length and below-knee. Although thigh-length stockings are widely perceived to be more effective in prophylaxis, difficulties associated with therapeutic application and maintenance are often encountered in different clinical settings...

Chemical prophylaxis is known to reduce the venographic prevalence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee replacement (TKR), but it is uncertain whether this affects the incidence of symptoms. Further analysis depends on the basic epidemiology of thromboembolic symptoms. We therefore studied the pattern of such symptoms in a consecutive series of 1000 patients with primary TKR, with particular reference to risk factors and prophylaxis. We reviewed all the clinical records and contacted all the patients individually, noting risk factors, prophylaxis, symptomatic pulmonary embolus (PE) or DVT and its timing, death and its causes, and all complications...

We prospectively studied the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the thigh in 117 patients having posterior lumbar spinal fusion with instrumentation and bone grafting for degenerative disk disease or spondylolisthesis. Patients with neoplasm, infection, trauma, or history of DVT were excluded. Patients were randomized into two groups. In the operating room, group 1 patients were placed in thigh-high antiembolic compression stockings (TED hose), and group 2 patients were placed in antiembolic stockings and pneumatic compression stockings...

During two consecutive study periods (24 months and 16 months), 997 patients (1322 legs) with varicose veins underwent surgical treatment in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, using a variety of surgical techniques. The average length of stay was 1.5 days, and 95.5% of patients had a hospital stay of less than 2 days. Complications occurred in seven inpatients. A further 16 patients developed complications requiring readmission to hospital (10 minor and intermediate; 6 major). The complication rate appeared to be operator-dependent: an increased complication rate (particularly major complications) occurred after surgery by junior surgeons...

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether levels of thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT) in plasma, taken two weeks pre-operatively, predict the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients undergoing major hip or knee surgery. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary-care referral centre, university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Ninety eight consecutive patients undergoing elective hip or knee surgery. INTERVENTION: All eligible consenting patients were seen in a preoperative clinic two weeks prior to surgery and had blood taken for measurement of plasma TAT level...

A questionnaire was sent to 363 members of the Vascular Surgical Society of Great Britain and Ireland about their use of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis at the time of varicose vein surgery. Replies were received from 289 surgeons (80 percent), of whom only 29 percent regarded varicose veins as an important risk factor for DVT. Only 12 percent used subcutaneous heparin prophylaxis routinely, while 71 percent did so selectively, being influenced by a history of thromboembolism (95 percent), obesity (47 percent), age (35 percent), recurrent varicose veins (22 percent) and inpatient status (16 percent)...

This article details the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Specific preventive measures discussed include the use of coumadin and of intermittent pneumatic compression stockings. Pros and cons of using knee-high and thigh-high antiembolism stockings also are addressed. If preventive measures fail and the patient develops a DVT, several treatment modalities are available.