Intermittent pneumatic compression devices - Physiological mechanisms of action

There are many reports of how IPC is used effectively in the clinical setti ng; including the prevention of deep venous thrombosis, improvement of circ ulation in patients with lower extremity arterial diseases, reduction of ly mphoedema, and the healing of venous ulcers. However, despite the widely ac cepted use of IPC, it is still unclear how IPC actually exerts its benefici al effects. The exact physiological mechanisms of action are unknown. The c linical utility of IPC and the putative mechanisms by which IPC could exert its therapeutic effect will be reviewed. The paper will examine the mechan ical effects of IPC exerted on the lower extremity, and the subsequent bioc hemical changes in the circulation. In vitro studies of the effects of mech anical stress such as compressive strain and shear on cultured endothelial cells, and their clinical relevance to IPC will also be reviewed.