COMPRESSION THERAPY AND THE PRESSURE IN THE DEEP VENOUS SYSTEM

Objective: To evaluate the venous pressure in the deep venous system d uring the application of short-stretch compression bandages and five d ifferent kinds of elastic therapeutic stockings. Design: Prospective s tudy comparing the effect of different kinds of compression on the dee p venous system. Setting: Department of Dermatology and Radiology, Aca demisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht, The Netherlands. Patients: Two patients have been assessed, one healthy subject and one patient with extensiv e venous disease and recurrent venous leg ulceration. Main outcome mea sures: Venous pressure was measured in the deep venous system of the l eg in the supine position, after standing and after performing tip-toe movements. Measurements were also made after application of compressi on bandages and elastic stockings. Results: Without stockings the pres sure traces are similar to those normally seen in phlebodynamometry. O nly tight compression bandages and strong class III stockings have an effect on the deep venous system. Conclusions: The results so far show a trend that only strong bandaging and class III stockings have any i nfluence on the pressure in the deep venous system. More data are requ ired for a full assessment to be made.