The effect of compression therapy on venous haemodynamics in pregnant women

Objective To study the influence of compression on the haemodynamics of the deep venous system in pregnancy. Design A prospective, observational study. Setting The phlebological unit of the department of dermatology at a univer sity hospital. Population Fifteen pregnant women with no previous signs of chronic venous insufficiency. Methods Parameters of the venous pump function were assessed by strain-gaug e plethysmography. Blood flow velocity, flow volume and vessel diameter in the superficial femoral vein were measured by duplex sonography. All examin ations were performed with and without applied compression stockings (25-32 mmHg) at two different stages of gestation and after delivery. In addition , subjective symptoms were graded. Results Venous pump function improved and refilling time lengthened signifi cantly when compression was used during gestation and postnatally. Duplex s onography showed an increase in blood flow velocity and flow volume in the superficial femoral vein with applied compression; the vessel diameter incr eased slightly. Subjective symptoms of the leg, graded on an arbitrary scal e, were reduced by regular compression therapy. Conclusion Our results indicate that compression improves the clinical symp toms of venous congestion and the venous haemodynamics of the legs during p regnancy and in the postpartum period. Thus, the regular use of compression during pregnancy and the puerperium may reduce the incidence of thromboemb olic events.