THE ROLE OF ELASTIC COMPRESSION STOCKINGS IN PREVENTION OF VENOUS DILATATION INDUCED BY A REVERSE TRENDELENBURG POSITION

Objective: To evaluate the response of the deep veins of the leg to an inclination from supine (reverse Trendelenburg) and assess the influe nce of gradient elastic compression stockings on such response. Design : Prospective study in healthy volunteers. Setting: University affilia ted community hospital, Glenview, Illinois, USA. Participants: Ten hea lthy volunteers. Interventions: High-resolution ultrasound imaging was carried out to study the leg veins in the supine and 45-degrees rever se Trendelenburg position, with and without thigh-length gradient elas tic compression stockings. Main outcome measures: Vein cross-sectional area changes after the use of compression stockings in the supine pos ition and after 30 and 60 min in a reverse Trendelenburg position. Res ults: Significant dilatation of the leg veins was observed during the reverse Trendelenburg position. This was partially prevented by the us e of gradient elastic compression stockings. Conclusion: Elastic compr ession of the legs significantly reduces the dilatation of the medial gastrocnemius veins of the calf that occurs in healthy volunteers as a result of inclination from supine.