VENOUS HEMODYNAMICS DURING IMPULSE FOOT PUMPING

Purpose: This study was designed to measure the effect of intermittent pneumatic compression of the plantar venous plexus on popliteal vein (PV) and common femoral vein (CFV) velocities measured by duplex ultra sound scanning. Methods: Thirty lower limbs in 15 healthy volunteers h ad venous duplex scanning measurement of PV and CFV velocities before and during foot pumping with an arteriovenous impulse foot pump system . Venous velocities were measured at two pump pressure settings (100 m m Hg, 200 mm Hg) and during two pump impulse durations (short = 1 seco nd, normal = 3 seconds). All limbs were examined with the subjects in the supine position, and then measurements were repeated with subjects in the 15-degree reverse Trendelenburg position. The mean maximum ven ous velocity (MW) produced by foot pumping was compared with resting v enous velocity at each anatomic location and for each technologic vari able. Results: Impulse foot pumping produced a statistically significa nt increase in MVV in both the PV and the CFV compared with resting ve locities. This significant increase was observed for both pressure set tings and both impulse durations, and no differences produced by these two individual variables could be detected. The increase in MVV produ ced by foot pumping was similar for limbs in the supine position and t hose examined in the reverse Trendelenburg position. The percentage in crease in MVV produced by foot pumping was significantly higher in the PV than in the CFV. Conclusions: Intermittent pneumatic compression o f the plantar venous plexus produces measurable increases in venous ou tflow from the lon er limbs of normal subjects. This study seems to ju stify further evaluation of the effectiveness of this technique for me chanical deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis in selected high-risk pati ent groups.